Police responded to gunfire inside a downtown apartment building. Two victims and the suspected shooter died, while six others were injured, including three Minneapolis police officers who were reported stable.

Two people were killed and six others were injured in a shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building on Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities. The suspected shooter was also found dead, bringing the total number of fatalities to three.

The injured included three Minneapolis police officers. Two officers suffered gunshot wounds, while a third sustained another type of injury during the response. All three were reported to be in stable condition at Hennepin Healthcare.

Police said the suspected shooter no longer posed a danger to the public, but investigators had not initially disclosed the individual’s identity, motive or manner of death.

Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call reporting gunfire at the apartment tower near 15 East Grant Street shortly after 4:30 PM CDT. Officers entered the high-rise approximately three minutes later and began locating victims.

Police then heard additional shots coming from a higher floor and moved toward the gunfire. Sgt. Garrett Parten said officers encountered a haze that severely reduced visibility, although authorities did not immediately explain what caused it.

One victim was pronounced dead inside the building. Another was transported to the hospital but later died. The suspected gunman was found dead during the police response.

The City of Minneapolis described the location as being in the Loring Park area and confirmed that the victims included civilians and police officers.

Two officers were struck by gunfire as police searched the building. One officer was shot in the leg, while another reportedly suffered two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and underwent surgery.

A third officer was injured but was not reported to have been shot. Hennepin Healthcare said all three officers were in stable condition following treatment.

The medical centre received seven patients connected to the incident. That figure included one victim who later died, leaving six surviving injured people, including the three officers. Parten called the shooting a tragic event and expressed support for the families of those killed, the wounded residents and the injured officers.

Residents described hearing a rapid series of gunshots before fleeing the apartment building. Julius Bailey said he was sitting outside when he heard the shots and saw a person he recognised as a resident holding a handgun. Bailey said he heard a woman screaming and ran from the area. He estimated that he heard about eight gunshots.

Another resident, Chris Miller, said he heard shots in quick succession and immediately went outside. Miller claimed he had encountered someone carrying a handgun in a hallway earlier in the week and had reported the matter to building management.

The witness statements form part of the developing account and have not replaced the police investigation into the sequence of events, motive and responsibility.

Police established a large emergency perimeter around the apartment building near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Residents and visitors were asked to avoid the densely populated Loring Park neighbourhood while officers searched and secured the property.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said state resources were assisting local authorities and thanked law enforcement personnel involved in the response.

The FBI also responded, with Director Kash Patel saying the agency would make resources available to support local investigators. Other agencies, including federal firearms personnel and neighbouring law-enforcement departments, assisted at the scene.

Authorities later said there was no continuing threat to the public. Investigators are working to identify the suspect formally, determine how the shooter died and establish what led to the violence. Names of the deceased victims were not immediately released.