Minneapolis City leaders announced the launch of the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) Firearm Assault Shoot Team (FAST), a specialized investigative unit dedicated to solving non-fatal shooting cases across the city.  

Historically, due in large part to the department’s staffing challenges, non-fatal shootings have been investigated by the MPD’s homicide investigators. Despite a significant decrease in non-fatal shootings in recent years, data shows that a more focused, consistent approach to solving these crimes could be essential to breaking the ongoing cycles of community violence. It is widely understood that fatal and non-fatal shootings often involve the same individuals or groups. Through the efforts of FAST, its partnerships, and a better use of resources, the goal is to interrupt the broader patterns of community violence involving repeat victims and offenders.   

“In Minneapolis, non-fatal shootings are still shootings, and require perpetrators to be held accountable,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “All Minneapolis residents deserve to feel safe living everyday life, and FAST will dedicate a response team to non-fatal shootings to interrupt patterns of retaliatory violence and build safer neighborhoods across the city.” 

About FAST 

FAST is another tool available to MPD’s newly established major crimes division to help keep Minneapolis safe.  By dedicating units to homicides and non-fatal shootings, MPD aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness in both investigations.  

Recent crime data reflects a steady decline in the number of non-fatal shooting victims between 2021 through 2025, while also showing a significant improvement in clearance rates last year as more attention was devoted to non-fatal shootings. These trends would indicate that the focused investigative strategy, along with coordinated efforts with partner law enforcement agencies and community groups, can have a measurable impact, reinforcing the importance of maintaining and expanding specialized resources dedicated to non-fatal shooting investigations. 

FAST, which began operations on March 23, consists of one MPD Lieutenant, seven MPD officers and personnel from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Transit Police with officers from the Bloomington Police Department expected to join the in June.  When MPD receives a report of a non-fatal shooting, a FAST investigator goes directly to the scene. This allows for more immediate investigative attention and specialized case follow-up, which is the same level of intense investigation as in a homicide.  

“Gun violence is preventable,” said Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley, Ward 2. “The City Council invested in a non-fatal shooting task force because the data shows targeted intervention strategies reduce violence citywide, all while using less than 1% of MPD’s budget. In just one month, the task force has already delivered strong results and helping make our communities safer. This is what it looks like to invest resources strategically to improve public safety for all residents.” 

The collaboration reinforces the City’s evolving approach to improving investigative outcomes, strengthening accountability, and enhancing community safety, not only though law enforcement partnerships, but also by working with violence prevention partners and community members in order to improve investigative outcomes and build long-term public safety. 

“The FAST Team represents a smarter, faster, and more collaborative approach to reducing gun violence in Minneapolis, said Chief Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Police Department. “This partnership between the Minneapolis Police and law enforcement partners strengthens our ability to investigate shootings, share intelligence, and hold violent criminals accountable. We will continue striving to reduce violent crime, aggressively rebuild this department, and strengthen community trust through both the level of service we provide and the way we provide it.”  

“Too many families in Ward 6 and across Minneapolis are living with the trauma and fear that follow gun violence,” said Council Vice President Jamal Osman, Ward 6. “Non-fatal shootings are often treated as isolated incidents, but when these cases go unsolved, they can fuel cycles of retaliation and continued violence in our neighborhoods. I support this Task Force because improving clearance rates and coordinating investigations can help prevent future harm while strengthening trust that violence in our communities is taken seriously.”  

 “For far too long, neighborhoods in Ward 9 and across the city that have high concentrations of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and immigrant neighbors have faced disproportionate levels of harm from gun violence,” said Minneapolis City Council Jason Chavez, Minneapolis City Council Ward 9. “So, while this task force was designed to improve public safety citywide, I am hopeful that it will disproportionately benefit the BIPOC communities who are most in need of help. I want to thank everyone across city government who has put in the work on this task force to get us here, and I am committed to continuing our partnership.” 

Non-fatal shooting victims and clearance rates, 2021-2025