Minneapolis police have released surveillance video of a murder suspect who committed suicide on Wednesday – to dispel widespread rumors that police killed the man.
The false reports of a police-involved shooting caused a violent night of looting and vandalism over the city.
Police tweeted the graphic video that briefly shows the moments leading up to the suspect’s suicide around 6pm at the Nicollet Mall in the city center.
“This evening a murder suspect committed suicide when police approached her at 8 and Nicollet,” police wrote about 90 minutes after the suspect’s death. “No officer weapons were fired. This is a tragedy for our community that is still wounded. Our condolences go out to the families of the victims.”
The clip shows the man with a backpack just outside a locked revolving door and people scurrying around to get away. With his back to the camera, he appears to have shot himself when two police officers approached him.
The suspect was found earlier in the day in a fatal shooting in a parking garage at N. 10th Street and Currie Avenue, Fox 9 reports.
Police believe three people got into a fight, with the suspect pulling a gun and shooting another man. The three knew each other all, police said.
However, the riot continued after police released the video, with stores such as Target, Nordstrom Rack and Foot Locker being looted and other store fronts being smashed, according to CBS Minnesota.
At least 15 people have been arrested on charges including rioting and burglary.
A city-wide exit from 10pm to 6pm is scheduled for Wednesday and will continue Thursday night.
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