Violent Weekend in Brooklyn Park Includes Fatal Shooting, Two Large Park Fights
Brooklyn Park Shooting Outside Restaurant Turns Fatal
Two large fights and a deadly shooting marked a violent weekend in Brooklyn Park.
According to police, a man was shot multiple times just after 4 a.m. Sunday outside of Flava of Soul restaurant on Edinburgh Center Drive.
“Restaurants are typically closed at that time, so I think we were all a little surprised that there were still patrons at the restaurant,” said Brooklyn Park police Inspector Elliot Faust on Monday. “I know they’re not supposed to be serving alcohol after 1 a.m.”
The man later died. His identity has not yet been released. There have been no arrests.
The shooting happened near a police department mobile surveillance camera, which was set up in the shopping center parking lot about a month ago, according to Faust. He said there have multiple reports of violent crime in the area since the restaurant opened earlier this spring.
“We’ve had calls of fights there, things of that nature,” said Faust. “I’m not sure what kind of crowd is being attracted to the establishment, but clearly there’s some problems that need to be addressed.”
The restaurant has a liquor license that allows it to serve until 1 a.m. and is requesting a routine extension at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Brooklyn Park police put up a mobile surveillance camera in the parking lot outside Flava of Soul restaurant.
Two Large Disturbances in Brooklyn Park City Parks
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Park police say they had to call in help from Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies and Minnesota State Patrol troopers after reports of a “large and rowdy group” at River Park at about 7:45 p.m. Friday.
Faust said officers arrived to find between 200 and 400 people at the park and “numerous fights” broken out before officers were able to disperse the crowd. The city closed the park after police arrived.
According to police, the group then moved north to Noble Sports Park, where calls came in again about fights among a large group of people. Faust said officers responded and found about 100 people fighting. With the help of a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter, Brooklyn Park police again dispersed the crowd and closed the park.
Officers say those that left in vehicles, in some cases, did so recklessly.
“It’s difficult when officers are out on foot, trying to push the group out, and then people are driving recklessly and there’s nobody in a squad car to go out,” said Faust. “It’s chaos.”
Faust said no one was arrested as a result of the incidents at the parks.
River Park in Brooklyn Park/credit Dustin Scholl
