Minneapolis Carjacking Suspect Pursuit Ends in Fatal Crash Killing Two Women and Injuring Child
The incident began just after 8 a.m. when Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that officers were alerted to a report of a man with a gun near East Lake Street and Fourth Avenue South. The situation escalated swiftly into a carjacking in progress involving a man driving recklessly in a maroon Ford Explorer.
A Reckless Carjacking and Police Pursuit
According to Chief O’Hara, eyewitnesses described the suspect’s driving as flagrantly reckless, with the vehicle speeding, swerving into oncoming lanes, and even driving on sidewalks on Lake Street. The suspect’s violent actions continued when he crashed the vehicle, pulled out a firearm, and attempted to carjack a motorist at a red light. Although that attempt failed, he forcibly carjacked another woman driving a black Volkswagen.
- The suspect retrieved three dogs from his vehicle after carjacking the woman.
- He then fired shots while fleeing the scene.
- The suspect was later seen driving erratically downtown and in north Minneapolis before officers initiated a pursuit.
Chief O’Hara emphasized that the police vehicles involved in the chase were fully marked and that no squad cars were involved in the collision itself. Unfortunately, the chase ended in tragedy when the suspect crashed into another vehicle on Highway 55 near Penn Avenue North.
Tragic Casualties and Arrest
The crash claimed the lives of two women instantly, identified as Marisa Ardys Casebolt and Liberty Borg, both aged 25. A 6-year-old child passenger in the vehicle suffered injuries that are considered survivable.
The suspect, a 45-year-old man from St. Paul, was arrested at the scene and transported to North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale with non-life threatening injuries. Police recovered a gun from the suspect’s stolen vehicle, and while two of the suspect’s dogs were injured in the crash, a third dog had to be euthanized due to its wounds.
Police Stance on Pursuit and Community Safety
In the aftermath, Chief O’Hara voiced the serious consequences of violent and reckless behavior, stating,
“This is an outcome that we never want, as two innocent lives have been taken from us because of one person’s violent and reckless behavior. This is exactly why we take carjackings and gun crime so seriously, because they put every member of our community at risk.”
Regarding the department’s pursuit policy, O’Hara described it as stringent, balancing the risk of pursuits against community safety. The department limits pursuits to cases involving immediate threats from violent criminals, especially those armed and dangerous.
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The ongoing investigation into the Lake Street carjacking is being led by Minneapolis Police, while the Minnesota State Patrol manages the crash investigation.
Calls for Tougher Penalties Amid Growing Concerns
David Titus, interim executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, responded strongly to the fatal incident, calling for enhanced penalties:
“Two innocent women are dead and a child is injured solely because of the reckless, violent actions of a criminal who carjacked at gunpoint with shots fired – and then fled police through Minneapolis rush-hour traffic. Enough is enough.”
Key details of the incident include:
- Date and Time: Thursday morning, around 8 a.m. leading up to about 8:39 a.m.
- Location of crash: Highway 55 near Penn Avenue North, north Minneapolis
- Victims: Two women, aged 25, and a 6-year-old child
- Suspect: 45-year-old male from St. Paul, arrested and in hospital
- Police stance: Strict pursuit policy focused on violent criminals
For more details on the incident, visit the official CBS News report.
What do you think about the police pursuit policies and community safety measures following this tragic event? Share your thoughts in the comments below!