News Release
For Immediate Release
New Persons of Interest Sought in Twin Cities Arsons
MINNEAPOLIS — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Response Team, along with the Minneapolis Police Department, Minneapolis Fire Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are now seeking persons of interest into several Minneapolis locations that were set ablaze during recent unrest.
Investigators are asking for assistance from the public to help identify individuals who could advance arson investigations at a number of locations, including the Minnesota Transitions Charter School, Minneapolis Police Third Precinct, the Auto Zone, and a number of other business locations.
“Progress has been steady in the Minneapolis fire investigations, and we are at a point where we need help identifying people,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “These arsons are adversely impacting our communities, business owners, employees and their families. ATF is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.”
Anyone with information on the identification and whereabouts of these individuals is asked to contact ATF. Call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov, or submit information anonymously via www.ReportIt.com or the Report It mobile app, available on Google Play or Apple Apps Store. When using Report It, select “ATF - St. Paul Field Division” as the reporting agency. Provide as much information as you can relating to the identities and whereabouts of these individuals or upload any videos or photos that may aid in an investigation.
New persons of interests are being developed almost daily. ATF St. Paul Field Division will post new persons of interest as they become available on its Twitter account at @ATFStPaul.
In addition to identifying persons of interest, investigators are still looking to the public for photos or videos from the nights of unrest the Twin Cities. They are specifically looking for photos or videos of people starting fires or adding additional material or accelerants to any of the business property fires in the Twin Cities.
ATF is working closely with the FBI to investigate crimes related to the recent unrest. It is not necessary to resubmit imagery to ATF that has previously been submitted to the FBI. Going forward, however, any video or photos the public is willing to share specifically related to business fires in the Twin Cities should be sent to ATF via the Report It platform.
The FBI continues to seek the public’s help in gathering information regarding violations of federal law related to the recent unrest in the Twin Cities. In addition to fires, the FBI is looking for people who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. The FBI asks for cooperation from all witnesses who believe they have relevant digital material or tips by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5342) or providing still pictures or videos at: fbi.gov/violence.
These are the third and fourth ATF National Response Team activations to the State of Minnesota this year. The team responded to the Press Bar and Parlor fire in St. Cloud in January and a behavioral health clinic in Grand Rapids in February. Prior to that, the NRT had not been in Minnesota since 2004. This is the 13th NRT activation nationally this fiscal year and the 860th activation since the inception of the NRT in 1978.
ATF developed the NRT to bring its expertise to local, state, and federal investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant explosions or fire incidents at no cost to the state or locals. The NRT can respond within 24 hours to assist state and local law enforcement/fire service personnel in large-scale fire investigations.
ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. For more information about ATF, go to www.atf.gov or follow @ATFHQ on Twitter. Follow @ATFStPaul on Twitter for updates regarding the two activations in the Twin Cities.
MN Transitions Charter School – Person 1 (video available)
MN Transitions Charter School – Person 2
Auto Zone – Person 1
Wells Fargo – Person 1
Aldi’s – Person 1
Minneapolis 3rd Precinct, Person 1. Do you recognize this individual or know someone who may have worn this shirt the night of the fires?
Minneapolis 3rd Precinct, Person 2. Do you know someone who many have been wearing this shirt or head wrap the night of the fires?
Minneapolis 3rd Precinct, Person 3
