Two men have been arrested after five people were shot Monday night near an ongoing Black Lives Matter protest outside a police station in north Minneapolis, police said.
The shootings occurred about a block away from the precinct, Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson John Elder told BuzzFeed News.
All five people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Elder added.
Three gunshot victims were transported to North Memorial Medical Center by private vehicle, Elder said. The other two victims were taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance.
Misky Noor, a spokesperson for Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that one person required surgery after being shot in the stomach.
Police said officials were searching for three white males believed to have been involved in the shootings.
Officers said Tuesday that a 23-year-old white man was arrested in Bloomington, to the south of Minneapolis.
Police later announced a second arrest in the city's south of a 32-year-old Hispanic man.
"Dozens of officers responded almost immediately attending to victims and secured the scene," police said in a statement. "Additional resources were called in and are actively investigating the shootings, interviewing a multitude of witnesses. The Police Department is working to identify suspects. The police are asking that anyone with information to please come forward."
Adja Gilersleve, a spokesperson for Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday the group did not yet have any detailed information on the suspects.
"Other than there was four of them that were white and all in masks," she said. "One of the protesters approached one of them because they were acting sketchy, and, after an altercation, found out that the shooter [had] on a bulletproof vest."
Noor told reporters Tuesday that protesters initially confronted four white men filming the encampment and began to "escort them away" when the men refused to remove their masks. The men then opened fire, she said.
"What happened last night was a planned hate crime and an act of terrorism," she said.
Noor was highly critical of the police response, accusing them of ignoring the threat of white supremacists to protesters and instead focusing their attention on peaceful demonstrators.
"We will not bow to fear or intimidation. Black Lives Matter exists to fight this type of dangerous white supremacy," she said.
Earlier this week, Black Lives Matter Minneapolis shared footage on social media showing what it said were armed white supremacists on their way to the protests.
Sources told Minnesota's Star Tribune newspaper that authorities are "weighing" whether to treat the incident as a hate crime.
Kyle Loven, a spokesperson for the FBI's Minneapolis division, told BuzzFeed News the bureau was aware of the incident. "We are currently coordinating with Minneapolis police to assess the matter and determine if federal action is appropriate," he said.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office gave the same statement to BuzzFeed News.
The incident comes after protests erupted in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jamar Clark, an unarmed black man, by police on Nov. 15.
Jamar Clark is seen in an undated photo released by his sister, Javille Burns.
Javille Burns / AP
Authorities have said Clark was shot during a struggle while they were trying to protect an assault victim.
Protesters have said Clark was handcuffed when he was shot and have called for videos related to his death to be released.
The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into whether Clark's civil rights were violated.
A statement from Eddie Sutton, Clark's brother, that was shared by Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison after Monday's shooting read: "Thank you to the community for the incredible support you have shown for our family in this difficult time. We appreciate Black Lives Matter for holding it down and keeping the protests peaceful. But in light of tonight's shootings, the family feels out of imminent concern for the safety of the occupiers, we must get the occupation of the 4th Precinct ended and onto the next step."
However, a spokesperson inside Black Lives Matter said there was more than just one opinion within the family about what to do, and told BuzzFeed News "we are working closely with them."
Black Lives Matter Minneapolis will reconvene at the 4th precinct today, according to the spokesperson. The protests will begin around 2 p.m.
The group sent a tweet requesting supplies, and told BuzzFeed News in an email they're expecting a "very big" crowd.
In a video statement, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she "abhorred" the attacks.
After the 23-year-old was arrested, Hodges said: "Proud that [Minneapolis Police Department] has arrested one suspect in last night's abhorrent shooting. We are sparing no efforts to bring any and all those responsible to justice."
In a Facebook post on Tuesday morning, Sen. Al Franken, who represents Minnesota, said he was "horrified" to learn of the shooting.
Amy Klobuchar, the state's senior senator, also condemned the "acts of violence" and called for peace.
Mike Hayes contributed to this report.
LINK: Minneapolis Police Clash With Protesters In Wake Of Fatal Shooting
LINK: Minneapolis Police Describe Use Of Force After Night Of Clashes With Protesters
SOURCE: BuzzFeed
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