Death in the Night

While you were sleeping last night, Minneapolis added another murder to the tally (KvM, please update your body count): "Man Found Dead Near Minneapolis Alley"

(WCCO) Minneapolis Minneapolis Police are investigating a shooting Friday night that left one man dead.

Police were called to 24th Avenue and North Sixth Street around 6:45 p.m. When officers arrived, they found the body of a man near an alley.

Police said it appeared the man died from a gunshot wound.

No arrests have been made. Mayor Rybak's press conference has not yet been announced.

2/26/06 UPDATE:

The Red Star reports more details on the murder: "Shooting victim identified as Minneapolis teenager".

A 15-year-old who aspired to be a cartoonist but struggled with chemical dependency and had gang ties was shot in the head and died near an alley in north Minneapolis this weekend.

Michael A. Bluntson Jr., who was called "Tony" by his family, was identified on Saturday. He was found at the intersection of N. 6th Street and 25th Avenue shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday after police responded to a call about a shooting.

His mother, Doris Bluntson, who lives several blocks from where her son was shot, acknowledged Saturday night that he "had some gang involvement."

"I had a pretty good idea it was him," she said, even before police positively identified him as the victim. She said he had been shot in the face, which delayed identification.

Welcome to the jungle.