A shooting outside Eden Prairie High School’s homecoming football game against Minnetonka injured two people Friday night, prompting police to evacuate the stadium and school officials to cancel Saturday’s homecoming dance.
The Eden Prairie Police Department said officers responded at about 8:40 p.m. after reports of shots fired near the stadium. Two people were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries; both were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment. Police said neither victim is a student at Eden Prairie or Minnetonka high schools.
In a Facebook post, police said the shooting is believed to have been targeted and that no arrests have been made. The investigation remains ongoing, and the department said it would release additional information as it becomes available.
Eden Prairie High School principal Dr. Jaysen Anderson announced Saturday that the homecoming dance would not go forward.
“Due to last night’s tragic and unfortunate event, we will not be holding our Homecoming Dance this evening. While we believe we would have the planning, resources and support to make tonight’s event safe and enjoyable, holding a dance less than 24 hours after a trauma in our community feels out of place.”
Anderson added that “too many students, staff and families were directly impacted,” and that the school needed to prepare to support students and staff when classes resume Monday. He said he would share more details by 9 p.m. Sunday.
Gov. Tim Walz addressed the shooting on social media Friday night, writing, “No homecoming, in any community, should be disrupted by gun violence. Minnesotans are keeping students and families in our thoughts tonight.”
Alpha News reporter Liz Collin reported that unnamed police sources told her Somali gangs were responsible for the shooting. That claim has not been confirmed by Eden Prairie police, who have described the incident only as a targeted shooting with no arrests made and an active, ongoing investigation.
The shooting comes as Minnesota heads into a closely watched U.S. Senate race. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic nominee, is running against Republican nominee Michele Tafoya in a contest recent polling has shown to be close.
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