Crime
James Ortley charged in Minneapolis mass shooting that left 4 dead, 1 injured
His arrest comes just months after he was briefly detained in February as a suspect in a violent robbery spree in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police have arrested a suspect in connection with a mass shooting earlier this week that claimed four lives and left one other critically injured.
The arrest was announced Thursday night by Police Chief Brian O’Hara during a press conference.
The suspect, 34-year-old James Ortley, was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. by the U.S. Marshals Service.
He is currently facing multiple counts of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting, which occurred late Tuesday night near the intersection of Bloomington Avenue South and East 25th Street in the city’s Phillips neighborhood, within Ward 9.
Ortley was also wanted on a federal warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to officials.
His arrest comes just months after he was briefly detained in February as a suspect in a violent robbery spree in Minneapolis.
At that time, he was held for two days before being released without charges.
Tuesday’s mass shooting was the first of six separate shooting incidents reported in a violent 24-hour span across the city that left at least six additional individuals injured.
Investigators are working to determine whether any of these incidents are connected.
Authorities do not believe Tuesday’s shooting was random and are continuing to investigate the possibility that other individuals were involved.
Four victims — two men and one woman — were pronounced dead at the scene.
They have since been identified as:
- Leras Rainey
- Evan Denny, also known as Ramone Day
- Maleice White, also known as MJ White
- Joey Goodwin
One other individual — a 24-year-old woman transported to a local trauma center with life-threatening injuries.
The woman sustained a gunshot wound to the face but was reported to have stable vital signs.
According to police, four of the victims were found inside a vehicle at the scene, while a fifth victim — an adult male — was discovered on the sidewalk nearby.
Chief O’Hara confirmed that while officers were responding to the shooting, they heard additional gunfire in the area, approximately five blocks away.
Although no further victims were found at that secondary location, physical evidence of gunfire was recovered, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the vicinity.
“This was not a random act of violence,” Chief O’Hara said, noting that early investigative findings indicate the victims were likely targeted and that the incident may be gang-related.
“The city is grieving,” O’Hara continued. “After a relative period of peace — the longest we’ve seen in over five years — that calm has been shattered. There are families suffering tonight. This is an absolutely senseless tragedy.”
He also spoke about the emotional toll on officers and first responders. “Family members were wailing at the scene. That’s always hard — when there is one victim, it’s heartbreaking. When there are multiple victims, it’s devastating.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.