Edina forum reveals deep resident anger, Somali community concerns after Yancey Park and church shootings
About 200 people packed Edina City Hall Monday for a gun-violence forum where residents voiced anger and fear over recent shootings at Yancey Park and the Our Lady of Grace church parking lot.[1]
Search-warrant affidavits say surveillance video captured multiple muzzle flashes and officers recovered 55 spent cartridge casings and torn packaging for a Glock 9mm extended magazine.[2] Investigators also found two vehicles struck by bullets, collected seven cell phones left on the basketball court and seized a white Honda Accord that was searched under warrant.[2] Police say no one was injured, the church property was not damaged and the teens on the court were not connected to the parish or school; officers are seeking tips and video from the public.[3]
The city reversed an online-only plan and held the forum at City Hall after Our Lady of Grace said it could not host, with officials noting a "high level of concern" following the shootings.[4] About 200 people filled council chambers for a presentation and a community Q&A before the meeting ended on a tight schedule.[1]
At the forum, residents including Jared Scribner demanded "leadership and conviction" and criticized what they called too much talk and not enough action.[1] A Somali community leader warned that singling out Somali suspects risks unfairly smearing the broader Somali community and said Somali organizations are working to engage youth.[1] Hennepin County Sheriff Jerry Fletcher, speaking after the meeting, reiterated a Somali-gang framing, estimated about 300 Somali gang members metro-wide and said letters were sent to suspected members, deepening a split with local officials.[5]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Search-warrant affidavits show surveillance video captured multiple muzzle flashes from the north entrance road near Eden Avenue, indicating at least two or three shooters, and officers recovered 55 spent cartridge casings plus torn packaging for a new Glock 9mm extended magazine (search-warrant affidavits).
- Investigators found two vehicles struck by bullets (a white Lexus and a gray Honda), collected seven cell phones left on the basketball court as evidence, and seized a white Honda Accord with heavily tinted windows that was searched under a warrant after the driver and a juvenile passenger said they had been playing basketball when shots were fired on Sept. 24 (white Honda Accord).
- AlphaNews reports that no one was injured and the church property was not damaged, that the teens and suspects are not connected to the parish or school, and that Edina police say the basketball group was the intended target while asking the public for tips and video (AlphaNews).
- The city reversed an online-only plan and scheduled an in-person gun-violence meeting at Edina City Hall for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, expecting about 200 people, with the meeting to be broadcast online, include a presentation and community Q&A, and conclude by 7 p.m.; the meeting had originally been planned at Our Lady of Grace before being shifted online (Edina City Hall).
- About 200 people filled City Hall for the Monday night meeting, where residents described being “angry, frightened and extremely frustrated,” and on‑record comments from Chief Todd Milburn and Mayor Jim Hovland emphasized the shootings’ impact and the need for both accountability and community cohesion (Chief Todd Milburn).
- A Somali community leader warned that focusing on Somali suspects risks unfairly smearing the broader Somali community and stressed that Somali organizations are actively engaging youth, reflecting community concerns about stigmatization (Somali community leader).
- Sheriff Fletcher doubled down on a “Somali gang” framing after the forum, estimating about 300 Somali gang members metro‑wide, saying 250 letters were sent to suspected gang members around the State Fair, and arguing that jailing a fraction of them would reduce shootings — a stance that highlights a split between his law‑enforcement approach and the more cautious framing favored by Edina officials and Somali leaders (Sheriff Fletcher).
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
October 06, 2026
6:39 PM
Sheriff Fletcher backs Somali gang task force, calls out Hennepin County leaders
New information:
- Fletcher, speaking after the Edina forum, doubles down on the “Somali gang” framing and gives a concrete estimate of 300 Somali gang members metro-wide.
- He says 250 letters were sent to suspected gang members around the State Fair and argues that jailing a fraction of them would significantly reduce shootings.
- The article underscores a growing split between law enforcement voices like Fletcher and the more cautious framing by Edina officials and Somali community leaders who are trying to avoid community-wide stigma.
2:55 AM
Recent Edina shootings leave residents angry, frightened
New information:
- Specific resident quotes describing being ‘angry, frightened and extremely frustrated’ and saying they no longer feel safe doing everyday activities in Edina.
- Confirmation that around 200 people actually attended the Monday night meeting, filling City Hall.
- On‑record comments from Chief Todd Milburn and Mayor Jim Hovland about the shootings’ impact and the need for both accountability and community cohesion.
- A Somali community leader publicly cautioning that focus on Somali suspects risks unfairly smearing the broader Somali community, while stressing that Somali organizations are actively engaging youth.
- Residents like Jared Scribner calling for ‘leadership and conviction’ and criticizing what they see as too much talk and not enough concrete action.
October 05, 2026
4:20 PM
Edina shifts gun violence meeting from online to City Hall
New information:
- City of Edina has reversed course and will hold an in-person gun-violence meeting at Edina City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Monday instead of online-only.
- The city expects to host about 200 people in council chambers; the meeting will still be broadcast online and include a presentation plus community Q&A.
- The meeting was originally planned at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, then shifted to online-only after the church said it could not host, drawing online criticism before the city changed plans again.
- Officials note early voting is being held in the same City Hall space until 4:30 p.m., creating a short turnover window, and they state the meeting must end by 7 p.m. without explaining why.
- The city’s notice explicitly acknowledges “the high level of concern in the community” following the Our Lady of Grace and Yancey Park shootings.
October 02, 2026
1:44 AM
Edina shooting: Search warrant reveals multiple shooters, 55 casings at Our Lady of Grace
New information:
- Search-warrant affidavits say surveillance video shows multiple muzzle flashes from the north entrance road near Eden Avenue, indicating at least two or three shooters firing simultaneously.
- Officers recovered 55 spent cartridge casings in the northwest corner of the church property, plus torn packaging for a new Glock 9mm extended magazine.
- Two vehicles in the lot were struck by bullets that passed through a white Lexus SUV and into a gray Honda SUV parked immediately south of it.
- A white Honda Accord with heavily tinted windows was found by the courts; the driver and a juvenile passenger claimed they had been playing basketball when shots were fired, and the car was seized and searched under a warrant on Sept. 24.
- Seven cell phones left behind on the basketball court were collected as evidence and, along with the casings and magazine packaging, were submitted to the BCA for examination.
- Witnesses at the scene refused formal statements, and officers noted the group appeared unconcerned, laughing and joking despite reporting bullets ‘whizzing’ by them.
September 24, 2026
11:30 AM
Shots fired on Edina church campus basketball court Tuesday night, latest in string of violent incidents
New information:
- AlphaNews frames the incident as part of a broader "string of violent incidents" in Edina, adding a narrative that this shooting fits into a recent pattern of local violence.
- The piece reiterates that no one was injured, the church property itself was not damaged, and that the teens and suspects are not connected to the parish or school, consistent with previous reporting.
- It again notes that Edina police say the basketball group was the intended target and that officers are seeking tips and video from the public.
September 23, 2026