Summer took a heartbreaking turn in Minneapolis after 11-year-old Amir Lamar Atkins was fatally shot in a local park in broad daylight.
According to police, the shooting happened just after 2 p.m. on June 23. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a nearby resident heard gunshots followed by cries for help. When the man stepped outside, he found Amir suffering from life-threatening injuries. He loaded Amir and another male into his car and sped toward the hospital, but tragically, the young boy could not be saved.
Police encountered the driver along the way and attempted life-saving measures, but it was too late.
“I cannot emphasize enough how terrible it is to have an 11-year-old boy shot and killed in the middle of the day,” Chief O’Hara said during a press conference. “We need anyone with information to come forward so we can bring some sense of justice to this child’s family.”
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner tentatively identified the victim as Amir Atkins. A GoFundMe page has since been launched to help his grieving mother cover funeral costs.
In an emotional tribute posted to the fundraiser, Amir’s uncle wrote, “Amir was a beacon of light in our lives – a joyful, loving child whose laughter filled our hearts. He had a unique spark that touched everyone he met, and his absence leaves a void that can never be filled.”
The boy’s family says his older brother tried to carry him and find help after the gunfire erupted. He later held Amir during the desperate drive to the hospital.
Police are continuing to investigate the case and urge anyone with information to contact the Minneapolis Police Department.
Demons among us