• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Brooklyn Park Sees Significant Increase In Gun Violence, Chief: ‘Police Don’t Matter’

4:40 PM | Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Summer is getting off to a bad start in the sixth-largest city in Minnesota as Brooklyn Park police continue to raise concerns about a growing number of gun violence cases. Officials say shots-fired calls are up 55 percent from this same time last year, with more than 60 cases through the end of June.

Recently, two separate shootings at 63rd and Zane occurred in the middle of the afternoon. One of the shootings resulted in a man shot in the leg.

On June 14, gunshots rang out again at the Highway 610 and Noble park-and-ride lot. Authorities say a group of about 30 to 40 cars were in the ramp at around 2 a.m. when at least five people shot at a vehicle from the top level of the ramp. People scattered and the vehicles left the ramp. No one was hurt during this incident. There haven’t been any arrests.

Police say the ramp is known for streetcar racing meet-ups. Typically, they happen on the weekends, but police say they’re now occurring more frequently. Police and Metro Transit have now chained off the upper levels to prevent illegal gatherings.

On June 22, a 22-year-old Robbinsdale man died after being shot outside the Nice Family African Market. Witnesses say a man sitting in his car opened fire as the victim walked in front of the store. Bullets went into the store, nearly hitting customers, police said.

“There were five or six shots, and then I thought it was just like, a firecracker,” said Brooklyn Park resident Ice Yang.

Shots-fired cases

A bullet hole at Nice Family African Market in Brooklyn Park after a June 22 shooting.

Brooklyn Park Residents Concerned

“It was never like this growing up,” said Precious Hornsby, a Brooklyn Park resident.

For the first time since living here, Hornsby says she’s afraid.

“I stay up in the house because I don’t think it’s safe to come outside,” she said.

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Craig Enevoldsen believes there are several factors contributing to the rise in crime.

“I think it started with COVID-19. The courts were shut down, and the jail had to empty as much as they possibly could. So, people were committing a crime, and there was no accountability to it,” explained Enevoldsen.

Chief Says Police ‘Up Against a Wall’

The top cop says the backlash against police after high-profile cases like the Derek Chauvin incident is also part of the problem.

“You hear the constant repetition that the police are simply not legitimate, and I think that has fed into people’s individual beliefs that there’s no accountability,” said Enevoldsen.

He says, at times, this leads to “a lawless community.”

“The police don’t matter,” said the chief.

Enevoldsen says some people are actively interfering with investigations while cops try to treat victims or when they’re gathering evidence.

“The lack of cooperation isn’t necessarily completely uncommon around shots fired, but treating the police as the enemy when they show up, that’s uncommon,” said Enevoldsen.

According to police leaders, the city is 11 officers down from its authorized strength of 107. To make the situation more complicated, Brooklyn Park has six new officers currently in training who can’t work independently, so that’s 17 sworn positions not able to help combat crime.

“We haven’t given up, we haven’t thrown our hands up, we’re still doing everything we possibly can to solve these crimes,” said Enevoldsen.

For residents like Hornsby, the violence is stealing the hope, joy and future of the people who live and work in the community.

“I just want to live another day. I want to live past 30, you know. I want my kids to live past 30,” said Hornsby.

Sonya Goins, reporting

Brooklyn Park

CCX News Special Reports

Related Stories

Grumpy Claude’s Food Truck Serves up Taste of the Caribbean:  Claude Alkins is in the business… Read More
Brooklyn Park Fines Huntington Place Apartments Owner for Repair Failures:  Brooklyn Park to Levy… Read More
Brooklyn Park Launches Nationwide Search For New Police Chief:  Brooklyn Park has officially… Read More
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Approves Hire of More Teachers:  The Anoka-Hennepin School Board approved… Read More
New MN Office of Public Engagement Aims to Reduce Racial Job Disparities:  MN DEED Announces Launch of… Read More
Brooklyn Park Police Search for Shooter That Struck Vehicle:  Brooklyn Park police continue to… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in