Drive-by shooting near George Floyd Square injures man hours before memorial festival

A gunman fired shots near the Minneapolis intersection where George Floyd died a year ago just hours before a festival in honour of the black man who died during a police arrest sparking a global movement for racial justice.

One man was injured in the shooting by 38th Street and Chicago Avenue - informally known as George Floyd Square - with witnesses saying as many as 30 shots were fired.

Police said a man later appeared at a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound.

A news broadcast reporting on the family-friendly street festival to mark a year since Floyd’s death at the hands of police was interrupted by the gunfire.

People can be seen falling to the ground to find cover and cycling away from the memorial as others shout to “get down”.

A man clears up the broken glass of a barber shop window
AP

Police spokesman John Elder said authorities believe he was injured in the shooting by George Floyd Square. He was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

Philip Crowther, a reporter working for AP Global Media Services, which provides live video coverage to customers, reported hearing as many as 30 gunshots about a block east of the intersection. Crowther said a storefront window appeared to have been broken by a gunshot.

“Very quickly things got back to normal,” Mr Crowther said. “People here who spend a significant amount of time, the organizers, were running around asking, ‘Does anyone need a medic?’ It seems like there are no injuries.”

Police said they responded to reports of gunfire at about 10.10am local time at the 3800 block of Elliot Avenue South.

Callers told police that a vehicle was seen speeding away from the area. Mr Elder said no one was in custody.

The square was being transformed Tuesday into an outdoor festival on the anniversary of Mr Floyd’s death, with food, children’s activities and a long list of musical performers.

“We’re going to be turning mourning into dancing,” rapper Nur-D tweeted. “We’re going to be celebrating 365 days of strength in the face of injustice.”

Floyd, 46, who was Black, died on Memorial Day 2020 after then officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, pinning him to the ground for about 9 1/2 minutes. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted last month of murder and faces sentencing on June 25. Three other fired officers still face trial.

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