At approximately 2:43 PM on 11/30/2025, Officers responded to a shooting at a store located at 36XX Dowling Ave N, at the intersection of Dowling and Fremont Ave N., Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers located video evidence that captured the shooting and and located seven 9 mm DCCs in the parking lot. Officers also responded to North Memorial Medical Center for report of a 17-year-old with gunshot wounds to his leg and arm. Statements made by the victim indicate they were present at the time of the shooting.
The victim was on foot, near the intersection of Dowling & Fremont Av N. Video evidence captured images of SHOOTER 1 on foot to the south and east of SHOOTER 2’s location, discharging a handgun in the direction of SHOOTER 2 and two of his associates. The two associates of SHOOTER 2 were in the presence of SHOOTER 2 at the time SHOOTER 1 fired his gun. SHOOTER 2 then discharged a firearm multiple times in a south and east direction, in the direction of SHOOTER 1, another pedestrian, single family homes, a church, a school, and vehicles at a nearby intersection.
The two associated of SHOOTER 2 were in the presence of SHOOTER 2 as SHOOTER 2 fired his firearm. SHOOTER 2 fired his handgun one-handed, multiple times, at people approximately 40 yards away, in what appears to be a reckless manner. SHOOTER 2 fired his handgun one-handed, multiple times, in the direction of a transit bus, approximately 57 yards away, in what appears to be a reckless manner. SHOOTER 2 fired his handgun one-handed, multiple times, in the direction of a Church 93 yards away, in what appears to be a reckless manner. (38XX Emerson N). SHOOTER 2 fired his handgun one-handed, multiple times, in the direction of a school 143 yards away, in what appears to be a reckless manner. (38XX Emerson Av N). Video demonstrates that SHOOTER 2 discharged his firearm, and a MN Transit bus with riders, was in the line of gun fire.
Video evidence indicates that SHOOTER 2 and his two associated exited the store at 36XX Dowling Av N and walked towards a white sedan in the parking lot prior to SHOOTER 2 discharging his handgun in the direction of victim, in the presence of his two associates. A law enforcement officer familiar with SHOOTER 2 from prior investigations reviewed video evidence, and positively identified SHOOTER 2 as VINNEO DE-ARIES COTTEN, herein Defendant. Warrant sought for public safety.
