2020 Minneapolis false rumors riot

For a different local event, see List of incidents of civil unrest in Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
2020 Minneapolis false rumors riot
Part of 2020–2023 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest
Hennepin County sheriff officers on patrol after looting and vandalism on August 27, 2020
Date
  • August 26–28, 2020 (2020-08-26 – 2020-08-28)
    (3 days)
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

44°58′26″N 93°16′29″W / 44.973945°N 93.274809°W / 44.973945; -93.274809
Caused by
  • False rumors about the suicide of a homicide suspect[1]
  • Mistrust between residents and officials[2]
MethodsRioting,[3][4] vandalism,[3] looting,[3] arson,[4] and assault[5]
StatusRioting ended August 28, 2020
Aftermath
Death(s)0
Injuries2 police officers[6]
Arrested132
Damage77 properties, including 5 set on fire[4][7][8]
Charged30
  • 27 by county officials
  • 3 by federal officials
State of emergency declared August 26–31, 2020[9][10]

False rumors of a police shooting resulted in rioting, arson, and looting in the U.S. city of Minneapolis from August 26–28, 2020. The events began as a reaction to the suicide of Eddie Sole Jr., a 38-year old black man who was being pursued by Minneapolis police officers for his alleged involvement in a homicide. At approximately 2 p.m. on August 26, Sole died after he shot himself in the head as officers approached to arrest him. False rumors quickly spread on social media that Minneapolis police officers had fatally shot Sole.[2] To quell unrest, Minneapolis police released closed-circuit television surveillance footage that captured Sole's suicide,[3] which was later confirmed by a Hennepin County Medical Examiner's autopsy report.[11]

The August "false rumors" riot[12] occurred as the city was still dealing with the aftermath of the George Floyd protests and riots three months prior. Misinformation about the manner of Floyd's murder led to persistent mistrust between city residents and public officials.[2] On the night of August 26, 2020, at least 132 people were arrested for violence and looting,[13] as damage to 77 properties occurred in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan region,[4][8] including five buildings that were set on fire.[4][7] Minnesota government officials amassed nearly 1,000 members of law enforcement and 400 Minnesota National Guard troops to keep the peace. An 8:00 p.m. curfew was implemented on August 27, 2020, with 30 people being arrested in the first hour.[14][15] During the duration of the curfew until it expired at 6:00 a.m. on August 28, over 100 people were arrested, including 80 for curfew violations.[16][17]

A state of emergency declaration and curfew orders expired on August 31.[10] Three Minnesota residents were later convicted of federal charges for an arson attack on the Target Corporation headquarters building the night of August 26.[18][19][20][21] A Minneapolis man pled guilty to a state assault charge for striking an officer with an object during the riot.[22][23]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference WCCO August 26, 2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Forliti, Amy; Baenen, Jeff (August 28, 2020). "Misinformation, police mistrust stir unrest in Minneapolis". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Jany, Libor (August 31, 2020). "Circumstances behind parking ramp killing hours before riots remain murky". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference damage was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference police was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Furst, Randy (September 11, 2020). "Richfield man charged with arson in fire at Target headquarters during Nicollet Mall unrest". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference emergency was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ended was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Homicide Suspect Who Shot Self On Nicollet Mall Identified". WCCO. August 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2020. Police tracked Sole to the 800 block of Nicollet Mall, where he shot himself outside the downtown Target store.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "132 arrests made during unrest, looting in Minneapolis overnight". KMSP-TV. August 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "1,000 Law Enforcement Members On Minneapolis Streets After Downtown Riot". WCCO-TV. August 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  16. ^ Navratil, Liz (August 29, 2020). "Minneapolis remains under emergency declaration, but no curfew Friday night". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  17. ^ Tribune, Chao Xiong Star (August 29, 2020). "At least 19 charged with burglary, assault in Minneapolis riot". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  18. ^ "Two Men Plead Guilty To Arson Of Target Corporation Headquarters". www.justice.gov. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota. January 25, 2021. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "Federal Jury Convicts St. Paul Man in Target Headquarters Arson". www.justice.gov. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota. August 12, 2021. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  20. ^ Tribune, Chao Xiong Star (August 29, 2020). "At least 19 charged with burglary, assault in Minneapolis riot". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ "State of Minnesota vs Brayshun Lamar Gibson (Case No. 27-CR-20-19312)". Minnesota Judicial Branch, Minnesota Trial Court Public Access. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Man who struck police officer with trash can lid charged with assault, riot and burglary". Hennepin County, Minnesota. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.