August 27, 2020 | 9:56am | Updated August 27, 2020 | 10:32am
Minneapolis police released surveillance video of a murder suspect committing suicide Wednesday — to dispel widespread rumors that cops killed the man.
The false reports of a police-involved shooting sparked a violent night of looting and vandalism across the city.
Police tweeted the graphic video that briefly shows the moments leading up to the suspect’s suicide around 6 p.m. on the Nicollet Mall in downtown.
“This evening, a murder suspect committed suicide as police approached them at 8th & Nicollet,” police wrote about 90 minutes after the suspect’s death. “No officer weapons were fired. This is a tragedy for our community that is still hurting. Our condolences go to the families of the victims.”
The clip shows the man with a backpack just outside a closed revolving door and people nearby scrambling to get away. With his back turned to the camera, he appears to shoot himself as two police officers rush toward him.
The suspect was wanted in a fatal shooting earlier in the day in a parking garage near N. 10th Street and Currie Avenue, Fox 9 reported.
Police believe three people got into a fight, with the suspect pulling out a gun and shooting another man. The three all knew each other, cops said.
The rioting continued, however, after police released the video, with stores like Target, Nordstrom Rack and Foot Locker getting looted and other storefronts being smashed out, according to CBS Minnesota.
At least 15 people have been arrested on charges including riot and burglary.
A citywide curfew from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. was imposed Wednesday and will continue Thursday night.
