EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – Officials in Eden Prairie cleared the high school homecoming game Friday night after a shooting nearby injured two people and triggered a broad emergency response. Police said the first call came in around 8:40 p.m., and crews quickly moved to secure the area around the school.
The Eden Prairie Police Department said the scene has since been secured, but investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened. Parents were told to meet any students who may have been present at Round Lake Park, where reunification efforts were organized after the evacuation.
Police secure the area and move families away from the school
Police said the area around the high school was evacuated soon after the incident was reported. The Eden Prairie Police Department, Eden Prairie Fire Department and Hennepin County EMS all responded to help protect the scene and coordinate next steps for students and families.
Officials said the public will not have access to the blocked-off area for the foreseeable future. That restriction reflects the active investigation and the need to preserve the scene while officers continue collecting information about the shooting.
The department also said the two people who were shot are not students at Eden Prairie High School or Minnetonka. No additional details about their conditions were released Friday night.
Authorities say the shooting appears to have been targeted
Investigators believe the shooting was targeted, according to Eden Prairie police. That assessment suggests the gunfire was not a random act, though officers have not publicly identified a suspect or explained what led up to the violence.
A law enforcement source told FOX 9 the shooting is connected to Somali gang violence. Police did not publicly confirm that detail during their initial update, and they said they were not ready to speculate about who was involved or what prompted the incident.
No one was in custody late Friday, and police said the investigation remained active. Officials also said there were many unanswered questions and that they intended to release only information that can be verified.
Mayor Ron Case and Chief Matt Sackett address a shocked community
Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case and Police Chief Matt Sackett spoke at a news conference Friday evening as families were still being moved away from the stadium area. Case said an event like this is deeply unsettling in a community such as Eden Prairie.
Sackett said police understand that parents, students and other residents want answers, but he stressed that investigators could not yet explain who was involved or what circumstances preceded the shooting. He said officers would avoid speculation until facts are confirmed.
The comments underscored the uncertainty still surrounding the incident and the challenge of managing safety, communication and reunification at the same time. Local officials framed the evening as one focused first on securing the scene and accounting for people who may have been nearby.
Walz says state officials are helping local investigators
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also responded Friday night, saying state officials were assisting local authorities in trying to identify the people responsible. In a social media post, he said no homecoming in any community should be interrupted by gun violence.
Walz said Minnesotans were keeping students and families in their thoughts after the shooting outside the football game. His statement added a broader state-level response to the local law enforcement effort already underway in Eden Prairie.
The governor’s remarks did not add new details about the investigation, but they reflected the reach of the incident beyond the school grounds. The shooting quickly became a matter of concern for families, school officials and state leaders alike.
Football game postponed until Monday as investigation continues
Eden Prairie football officials said on social media that the homecoming game will resume Monday, though they have not announced a start time. The delay gives police and school officials more time to handle the aftermath of the shooting and the large-scale evacuation.
For now, police say the investigation is still active and that they do not have anyone in custody. Families were directed to Round Lake Park for reunification, while the area near the school remained closed to the public.
The district and police department have not said when the blocked-off area will reopen. Their immediate focus remains on safety, accountability and helping students, parents and staff navigate the disruption to one of the school year’s biggest events.
