Minnesota officials, feds launch new collaboration to tackle youth violence

Leaders of over 40 law enforcement agencies from local, state and federal levels have formed a new partnership to address gun violence among Somali youth gangs, according to officials. The collaboration was announced on Monday following several recent shootings in the Twin Cities metro area, including a recent incident at Eden Prairie High School's homecoming football game that left two people injured.

In a news conference, Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans stressed the seriousness of the situation, stating, "When we see 100 rounds fired in Bloomington, that's a problem, regardless of the number of people doing it." He emphasized the goal of steering at-risk individuals away from criminal paths and also ensuring law enforcement can arrest offenders.

Some officials have referred to the groups as "Somali American gangs," but Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and others urged against stereotyping the entire Somali community. They emphasized that their focus is on specific criminal activities, not entire ethnic groups.

The collaborative effort will involve the gun and nonfatal shooting units of the Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments, the BCA's Violent Crime Reduction Unit, the FBI, ATF, various smaller police agencies, and sheriff's offices in Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka and Dakota counties. They will utilize the Crime Gun Intelligence Center to share firearm evidence among jurisdictions.

The initiative aims to build strong criminal cases, disrupt retaliatory cycles, and ultimately prevent future shootings. The ATF has brought in additional agents and dedicated a group specifically to investigate gang violence. Federal prosecutors have also explored using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to dismantle these criminal groups.