Minneapolis PD to offer reward in shooting of three children

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has announced a reward of $180,000 in return for information on shootings that involved three children in Minneapolis this summer. Two of the children died, while one is still recovering from his injuries.

Spotlight on Crime and Crime Stoppers of Minnesota are supplying the reward money, according to a release. This is the largest Spotlight on Crime reward ever offered in the state.

Six-year-old Aniya Allen and 9-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith were both shot in May and died from their gunshot wounds. Ten-year-old Ladavionne Garrett Jr. was shot in April and is still recovering as of last week. No arrests have been made in any of the children’s cases.

On Monday, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Department of Public Safety Assistant Commissioner Booker Hodges, BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, Chairman of Crime Stoppers of Minnesota Robert Dennistoun, President of Clear Channel Outdoor in Minneapolis and St. Paul Dan Ballard, and family of Ladavionne Garrett Jr., Trinity Ottoson-Smith and Aniya Allen will be present at a press conference to address this new initiative.

Monday’s announcement will also detail a billboard campaign that launches this week featuring rewards.

According to the BCA, each of these cases were the result of gun violence allegedly among rival gangs and the three children were unintended targets. The police department and BCA are hoping the financial reward being offered will motivate someone with information on the shootings to come forward.