UPDATED: Heroic Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell Killed in Line of Duty
Provided by the Minneapolis Police Department.
Updated: Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 7 PM.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - Officer Jamal Mitchell, 36, of the Minneapolis Police Department, was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Responding to reports of an active shooter in the 2200 Block of Blaisdell Avenue in the Whittier Neighborhood in south Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to officials, Officer Mitchell arrived on the scene and immediately began providing aid to an injured male about a block and a half from the original crime scene when the injured male, the suspect, pulled a gun and assassinated Officer Mitchell. Officials report that the gunman continued to shoot at Officer Mitchell even after he fell to the ground. Additional officers arrived and transported him to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). The chaotic scene began around 5:20 PM in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue South as a report of a double shooting in an apartment complex in south Minneapolis. When officers arrived, they were met with immediate gunfire. Officer Mitchell was critically injured and transported to HCMC, where he later died despite all life-saving measures from the HCMC staff. A second officer also sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to HCMC. They have since been released from the hospital.
The suspect, who was shot and injured during the confrontation, died at the scene despite officers providing immediate aid. Two additional adult victims were found with gunshot wounds in the apartment building where the shoot originally occurred. One victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the other was gravely injured. More information on the victim who was pronounced deceased can be found below. A Minneapolis firefighter also sustained non-life-threatening injuries from gunfire.
Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Blackwell says Officer Mitchell is a hero, father, son, and fiancé and an officer deeply committed to serving his community. She said she’d never seen someone, just three days into his field training, receive an award for saving an elderly couple from a fire. The Assistant Chief says Officer Mitchell was with the department for about a year and a half. Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Blackwell stated, "Officer Mitchell's sacrifice will not be forgotten. He embodied the highest standards of our department and the community he served."
Governor Tim Walz expressed his condolences, noting the recurring trauma faced by the community, with similar incidents happening four times in the past four months. Mayor Jacob Frey also conveyed his grief and support for the fallen officer’s family and colleagues.
The Minnesota BCA is actively investigating the incident. More information will be released as it becomes available. Authorities are working with the Hennepin County Medical Examiner to gather more details about the suspect. The initial cause of the incident in the apartment remains unknown and is part of the ongoing investigation.
This tragic event has left the community in mourning, with many remembering Officer Mitchell as a wonderful human being and a hero. His dedication and bravery will be remembered and honored by his family, colleagues, and the community he served so faithfully.
Osman Jimale
Osman Jimale, 32, was one of two victims shot inside a residence of an apartment building in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue. According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, his manner of death was ruled a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds.
Mustafa Mohamed - Alleged Shooter
35-year-old Mustafa Mohamed has been identified as the alleged shooter who killed 36-year-old Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, Mohamed was located outside a residence in the 2100 block of Blaisdell Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was reported to have died by homicide from multiple gunshot wounds. “Manner of death classification is a statutory function of the medical examiner, as part of death certification for purposes of vital statistics and public health. Manner of death is not a legal determination of culpability or intent,” per the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
UPDATE - June 2, 2024 at 7 PM - Additional Information on What Unfolded
In a press release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, they state that the Hennepin County Medical Examiner has identified Mustafa Mohamed, 35, of Minneapolis, as the man killed in a police use-of-force incident on May 30. Mohamed died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) named two Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident. Officer Nick Kapinos, with 10 years of experience, fired his department handgun. Officer Luke Kittock, with nine years of experience, used his department rifle. Both officers are currently on critical incident leave.
The incident began with a shooting report at an apartment building on Blaisdell Avenue. Officer Jamal Mitchell was the first to arrive and found Mohamed and another injured man in the street. As Mitchell approached Mohamed to offer help, Mohamed unexpectedly shot Mitchell at close range, incapacitating him.
Kapinos and Kittock arrived shortly after and witnessed Mohamed continuing to shoot Mitchell. When Mohamed fired at the arriving officers, they returned fire, fatally wounding him. Despite efforts to provide life-saving care, Mohamed died at the scene. Mitchell succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Kittock sustained injuries during the gunfire exchange but has since been treated and released. A Minneapolis firefighter also received treatment for injuries related to the incident. The other injured man remains in critical but stable condition.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun with an extended magazine and multiple cartridge casings from the scene. Both body-worn and squad car camera footage of the incident are being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the BCA is investigating related shootings, including a homicide at the apartment building. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be presented to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for review without charging recommendations. Further information will be released as the investigation continues.
Written by: Will Wight
