Minneapolis Apartment Shooting Leaves Two Residents Dead, Three Officers Injured; Suspect Also Killed

A deadly shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment complex left two residents dead and six people injured, including three police officers, before the suspected gunman was killed during an exchange of gunfire with responding officers.

The incident occurred Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Shoreline Plaza, formerly known as Loring Towers, at 15 E. Grant St. near downtown Minneapolis. Police received the first 911 call at about 4:36 p.m. and officers entered the high-rise within minutes.

The viral graphic accompanying reports of the shooting is based on a real event, but its wording — particularly “White House on Alert” — is not supported by the reporting reviewed.

What Happened in Downtown Minneapolis

According to investigators, the violence began outside the apartment building during a child-custody exchange.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension later identified the suspected gunman as 35-year-old Carlton Neal Johnson II. Investigators say Johnson shot a woman during the exchange before entering the apartment building. He then shot two building employees before taking an elevator to the ninth floor.

On the ninth floor, Johnson shot two residents, who later died. They were identified as 63-year-old Dale Henry Spry and 61-year-old Muse A. Afrah.

Responding officers followed the sound of gunfire upstairs. Officials said they encountered a haze that initially made visibility difficult before exchanging gunfire with Johnson.

Suspect Was Killed by Police

Early reports were uncertain about how Johnson died, with some outlets initially reporting the possibility of suicide.

That question was clarified by investigators Thursday.

A preliminary autopsy found that Johnson died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his manner of death was ruled a homicide. Investigators say he was killed during the exchange of gunfire with Minneapolis police.

The Minnesota BCA is conducting the investigation into the shooting and police use of force.

Three Police Officers Were Injured

Two Minneapolis officers were shot during the confrontation:

• Officer Joseph Michnowski, a department member since 2021
• Officer Yahye Ahmed, who joined the department in November 2024

A third officer was also injured during the response. Initial reports described three injured officers, while subsequent BCA identification specifically confirmed Michnowski and Ahmed as the officers wounded by gunfire.

Authorities said the injured officers were expected to recover. Ahmed was later reported to have been released from the hospital.

Warning Signs Before the Shooting

The shooting has also raised questions about Johnson's history.

Court records show that the apartment property's owner had been pursuing an eviction against Johnson. The proceedings followed allegations of threatening behavior, including incidents involving a firearm. One resident had also sought a restraining order against him.

Police had previously investigated an allegation that Johnson displayed a firearm during a dispute. Prosecutors ultimately determined that the available evidence was insufficient to pursue criminal charges, according to reporting based on law-enforcement and court records.

Officials have not established that the eviction dispute itself was the motive for the shooting.

What the Viral Graphic Gets Right — and What It Leaves Out

Accurate:
The graphic's central claim that a Minneapolis shooting left two people dead and police officers injured corresponds to a real mass-casualty shooting on Sept. 2.

Important correction:
The overall death toll is now three, including the suspected gunman. The two civilian victims were Spry and Afrah.

Misleading:
The phrase “White House on Alert” gives the impression that the White House itself was placed on an emergency footing because of this shooting. I found no credible report establishing such an alert in connection with the Sept. 2 Minneapolis attack.

The White House did hold a press briefing on Sept. 3, with Vice President JD Vance discussing national issues including Iran, gas prices, data centers and the midterm elections, but that is not evidence of a special White House security alert connected to the Minneapolis shooting.

The image therefore combines a genuine major shooting with a sensational political-security phrase that has not been substantiated.

Investigation Continues

The BCA is continuing to reconstruct the sequence of events, including exactly which officers fired their weapons and the circumstances surrounding Johnson's death. Officials are also examining the suspect's history and the relationships between Johnson and the people he encountered during the attack.

The tragedy has renewed debate in Minnesota over firearm restrictions, domestic violence and whether existing intervention mechanisms can prevent people with documented threats from escalating to deadly violence.

Bottom Line

The Minneapolis shooting shown in the viral graphic really happened. Two residents were killed, six people were injured in the broader incident, including police officers, and the suspected gunman was killed by police.

But the claim that the “White House [is] on alert” is not established by credible reporting. The verified story is a deadly downtown Minneapolis apartment shooting and an ongoing state investigation — not evidence of a national emergency centered on the White House.