Drive-bys Coming To A Suburb Near You

As violent crime spreads throughout the city of Minneapolis, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the suburbs are also experiencing some fallout. After all, criminals don't care about boundaries.

In the last year or so, some of the growing suburban violence has been seen in Hopkins, Bloomington, Edina, and other close-in suburbs. Now, thanks to a tip from the Lady Logician, a story has emerged from the Twin Cities suburb of Savage of a drive-by shooting; in other words, big city crimes meets the suburbs: "Savage police host neighborhood meeting to allay resident concerns after drive-by shooting".

by Andrew Miller

Thisweek Newspapers

A repeat incident is unlikely, but residents of the Savage neighborhood in which a drive-by shooting occurred July 27 can expect an increased police presence.

That was the message Savage police delivered at a meeting Aug. 15 at St. Mary Magdalene Lutheran Church.[edited]

Det. Dave Muelken spelled out details of the drive-by for residents, but stated that the investigation is ongoing and not all the information gathered by police could be divulged.

Two men have each been charged with four felonies in connection with the shooting. Harold Linville, 21 of Lakeville is the alleged driver; Steven No, 19, of Farmington (who, according to police, also has a Savage residence) is the alleged gunman.

The afternoon of July 27, a 25-year-old Savage man was driving in town when No, in another vehicle, threatened him with a baseball bat, Muelken said.

There is evidence of gang involvement, which is not something you would typically see in the suburbs. This is an obviously unwelcome export from urban areas.

And though the criminal complaint signed by Savage police and filed Aug. 1 in Scott County District Court alleges that No and Linville are known to be associates of the Royal Cambodian Bloods street gang, Muelken said that neither No nor Linville is a gang member documented with the state.

Though that doesn’t mean police have ruled out a gang connection.

The investigation is active and ongoing. If you have information, call the Savage Police at 952-882-2600.

If gangs are branching out from urban areas to the suburbs and beyond, then it's clear that urban violence is everyone's problem. That's why no one should tolerate excuses by Minneapolis leaders for not getting the job done in suppressing criminal behavior.