Minneapolis police have been busy these past two weeks, cleaning up the streets by confiscating over 20 firearms. Among the confiscated items were two guns seized in separate incidents that showed timely intervention by law enforcement to mitigate potential harm to the local community.

In one instance, officers from the Third Precinct responded to two business robberies that rampaged through the area on April 18. A gas station was first hit, where a suspect hinted at possessing a handgun and made away with cash and merchandise. The thief then struck a barbershop on E Lake St., this time brandishing a firearm. According to a Facebook post by the Minneapolis Police Department, the suspect’s getaway car was found close to the crime scenes, with the driver, later identified as Awil Billie Mohamed, still inside. The cops swooped down, and following a traffic stop, arrested Mohamed, recovering the loot along with the weapon. Mohamed, 25, was booked on charges of first-degree aggravated robbery.

Another incident involved the MPD Southside React Team who put the cuffs on a man linked to a recent fusillade, the arrest incidentally leading to the recovery of a stolen handgun from someone not legally permitted to carry. Deviro Montgomery, 30, found himself behind bars facing charges of second-degree riot related to the shooting and illegal gun possession.

As of now in 2024, more than 282 firearms have been taken by the Minneapolis Police. The department's head, Chief O'Hara, praised his squad, saying, “I commend the outstanding police work displayed by our officers in working tirelessly to remove these guns and the people who use them to harm our community from the street.” Despite the ongoing battle against illegal firearms, police efforts in the past fortnight indicate a ceaseless vigilance in maintaining public safety, one confiscated gun at a time.