Minneapolis police solved 80 percent of homicides in 2025, the highest rate in recent history



A taped off crime scene

Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara said the department solved 80 percent of homicide cases in 2025 — the highest rate the department has had in recent history.

O'Hara discussed this and other crime statistics with members of a City Council committee Wednesday.

During a presentation on the city’s summer safety strategy, O'Hara said the department solved 40 percent of non-fatal shootings in 2025. But he said he expects that number to rise this year as the department has dedicated investigators to respond to those incidents. O’Hara said members of the Firearm Assault Shoot Team work separately from the homicide investigation team.

"So now we effectively have the same level of response to non-fatal shootings that we do for homicides, and that's why we expect the clearance rates to be higher now for this year," said O’Hara.

Last year, the St. Paul Police Department announced that its focus on solving non-fatal shootings led to a dramatic decrease in homicides in 2025.

According to preliminary totals from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, St. Paul registered 15 homicides last year with 12 of them were cleared due to arrest. Minneapolis saw 62 homicides last year, according to the BCA.

City Council member Robin Wonsley has championed a similar focus on non-fatal shootings in Minneapolis.

“I'm very thankful to my colleagues for supporting those efforts and for collaboration and actual serious implementation by the administration, specifically under your leadership chief,” Wonsley said.

In Minneapolis, clearance rates are often lower in years where the number of homicides is high. Low staffing numbers can also hamper the department’s ability to close homicide cases.

O’Hara also gave an update on the number of homicides in the city so far this year.

The chief said the number of non-negligent homicides — or killings that are not accidental — is up slightly compared to this time last year. And he said there's been a 14 percent decline in the number of shooting victims this year compared to the same period in 2025.



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A Republican lawmaker charged in an alcohol-related driving offense won’t have to appear in court again until after the Legislature adjourns for the year.

A June 10 arraignment hearing is set for Rep. Elliott Engen, a Lino Lakes Republican who faces three misdemeanor charges following an arrest early Friday. He was stopped for speeding and other infractions in White Bear Lake; officers detected alcohol and he later tested well above the legal limit for driving, according to a citation.

Engen has apologized for a lapse in judgment; he promised to learn from his actions and “do better.” Aside from being a second-term legislator, he is also a candidate for state auditor.

A second lawmaker, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson, was in Engen’s truck at the time of the stop and an open bottle of alcohol was found in a rear seat. Hudson, a second-term legislator from Albertville, was in possession of a permitted handgun, which could cause him legal problems if he is determined to have been intoxicated.

Police officers wrote in their report that Hudson disclosed he had the gun as the truck was being searched. The report said police took the firearm for safekeeping and said he could pick it up at a later time, which Hudson agreed to.

“I regret the poor decisions that were made during this incident, and commend the White Bear Police Department for their professional response,” Hudson said in a written statement. “I’m grateful that no harm was done to ourselves and others.”

Two lawmakers stand and look around
Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, (center) and Rep. Bidal Duran, R-Bemidji, (right) join other Republican lawmakers gather in the House chambers Jan. 27, 2025.
Tim Evans for MPR News file

A third, unidentified passenger was in the truck as well, according to police. Hudson and that person were transferred to the police department until they could arrange rides.

The Minnesota lawmakers had been at the Capitol late into the evening Thursday as the House debated procedural motions on gun, immigration and social media legislation. The motions failed on 67-67 votes.

There is no indication yet that either Hudson nor Engen had been drinking on Capitol grounds, which would be a violation of a House rule against consumption of alcohol or drugs in spaces under that chamber’s control.

According to a White Bear Lake Police report, Engen initially said he had not been drinking when asked by the police officer who pulled him over — “nothing at all,” he is quoted as saying. He performed a field sobriety test, which the report says showed signs of impairment.

Engen gave a preliminary breath sample there, the report says, which estimated a 0.142 blood alcohol level. After he was taken by squad car to the police department “Engen spontaneously stated, ‘Sir, I had a drink three hours ago,’” the report says.

He told the Minnesota Star Tribune in an interview Monday that he had also consumed alcohol in the afternoon on Thursday as well.

Engen is charged with two impaired driving offenses and speeding. White Bear Lake police also said he was driving a vehicle with expired registration and an inoperable headlight.

Engen has not returned calls from MPR News. A court docket lists a “notice of appearance” on Tuesday.

He is being represented in the criminal case by Chris Madel, an Excelsior attorney who waged a brief Republican campaign for governor.



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