MPD chief and Hennepin County prosecutor argue over referral of juvenile crime cases

A day after four children were injured in a drive-by shooting in north Minneapolis, the Hennepin County prosecutor and the Minneapolis police chief are discussing strategies to break the cycle of juvenile delinquency.

According to police, the four victims were in a stolen Kia around 1 a.m. Sunday when automatic shots were fired from a vehicle following them on West Broadway Avenue.

Two boys and two girls between the ages of 11 and 14 were injured, and one girl was taken to hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Monday that all victims are expected to survive.

“I think in many ways we are failing to stop these activities,” O'Hara said the night of the shooting. “Two of the five youths involved in this incident were arrested less than two weeks ago for being in a stolen car.”

In a statement Monday, a spokeswoman for Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty said none of the juveniles had been referred to her office as part of an early intervention program against juvenile auto theft.

To counter that claim, O'Hara called a press conference later that afternoon. He said the two teens in question were arrested and released in connection with a car theft on August 9, and that his department was still pursuing their cases as of Friday.

“The prosecution could have taken at least two of these children off the streets 10 days ago, before this happened, but for some reason they didn't do that,” O'Hara said Monday.

When asked if the MPD plans to refer the five children from the stolen vehicle who were targeted in the shooting to an early intervention program, O'Hara said his department's priority is “the other kids who shot.”

In its statement, Moriarty's office said the auto theft intervention program was created specifically for cases where police do not have enough evidence to file charges, and that MPD has only referred four juveniles since April.

O'Hara also refuted that claim, saying the MPD regularly refers the children to community-based services and the district attorney's diversion programs.