Neighbor finds 11-year-old shot dead after spray of gunfire in park, MN cops say
A neighbor heard “cries for help” after a barrage of gunfire ripped through a Minnesota park and discovered 11-year-old Amir Lamar Atkins suffering from a gunshot wound, police said.
“In a moment of crisis, his older brother’s love shone through as he carried Amir, seeking help,” family said in a GoFundMe.
The neighbor placed the child in his car, along with another person found outside of his home, and sped toward the hospital on the afternoon of June 23, Minneapolis police said in a news release the same day. On the way, the neighbor waved down a police officer for help.
The officer removed Atkins from the vehicle and attempted to save his life, but Atkins died at the scene.
Now, a 16-year-old accused of firing the gunshots that killed the child was arrested and booked in the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on July 22, police said.
His name was not released by authorities.
“Amir was a beacon of light in our lives – a joyful, loving child whose laughter filled our hearts,” family wrote in a GoFundMe. “He had a unique spark that touched everyone he met, and his absence leaves a void that can never be filled.”
Police did not describe what led up to the deadly shooting, but witnesses reported vehicles driving through the park as gunfire erupted, police said.
“I cannot emphasize enough how terrible it is to have an 11-year-old boy shot and killed in the middle of the day,” Minneapolis Police Chief Chief Brian O’Hara said in a release.
Officials said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Neighbor finds 11-year-old shot dead after spray of gunfire in park, MN cops say."
