MINNEAPOLIS — Surveillance video shows people armed with baseball bats bashing the glass doors of a Minneapolis homeless shelter.

Sixteen families of women and children have moved out of St. Anne’s Place since the attack.

“A normal response is to be afraid,” said Hoang Murphy, the CEO of People Serving People, which runs the shelter. “Their intention is to cause fear.”

Murphy says the neighbors across the street are responsible.

He says the attack was an escalation of a parking disagreement involving a resident’s van, but smashing the door panels wasn’t the worst of it.

“[Staff] heard two gunshots, and then there was also two bullet holes in the van when we went outside to address it,” Murphy said. “A guest reported being pistol-whipped in the front of her head and the back.”

Police were called, but Murphy is baffled and frustrated that no one’s been arrested.

“Charges need to be filed,” he said. “That’s the beginning of making sure that this is safe, and it’s a trusting place that families and staff can return to.”

The Minneapolis Police Department said in an email, “Officers were not able to establish a level of certainty that supported an arrest. All involved individuals were identified, and the case was assigned to an investigator.”

A spokesperson says the department’s reviewing all footage.

In the meantime, Minneapolis police put up a camera out front and say they’re doing extra patrols in the neighborhood.

The shelter has also hired 24-hour security.

“I’d like to hope we all have the same goal here, which is we want to make sure justice is served,” Murphy said. “They have identified these folks. This needs to be addressed.”

The shelter was home to 54 women and children.

They’ve lost track of two of the families. The rest are in a hotel, which Murphy says is not a long-term solution.

See the Minneapolis Police Department’s full response below:

MPD has continued to communicate with leadership at St Annes Place on the status of this investigation.  That communication includes much of the following information:

• Why were no arrests made?
  • Tensions were high between the two groups at the scene. Officers worked diligently to de-escalate the scene to gather the necessary information.  
  • Both sides remained escalated and both groups claimed to have been assaulted. 
  • Officers were not able to establish a level of certainty that supported an arrest.  All involved individuals were identified, and the case was assigned to an investigator. 
  • MPD is still reviewing reports and BWC to determine if a “pistol whipping” was communicated to police on September 5th.
  • Officers identified 2 parties (1 adult and 1 juvenile) who broke windows.  
  • Investigators are anticipating a quote for repair of for the damaged from SAP.  This will help to determine the level of the crime. 
  • An investigator has been assigned this case and an active investigation is underway.  –
• What is missing from the available evidence that you still need to make an arrest? 
  • MPD is awaiting a quote for the damaged property –  
  • MPD has been awaiting surveillance video of the incident.  It was provided on September 9th.
  • 4th Precinct Acting Inspector Hand requested contact information for potential victims claiming to have been assaulted.  Until September 9th, no video of an assault has been identified or made available. 
  • Investigators spoke with two individuals on September 9th who provided statements about an assault they state occurred on September 5th.   
  • If sufficient evidence becomes available, charges will be submitted for consideration.                             
• What is MPD willing to do to ensure the safety of the 54 homeless women and children served at the shelter?
  • 4th Precinct officers and Guardian Beats are conducting extra patrols in the neighborhood. 
  • A mobile camera was placed outside SAP
• Will MPD commit to supporting a restorative process with the neighbors who live near the shelter to repair so we can bring families back?
  • A social worker will be notified who are trained in dealing with neighbor disputes and have the resources to assist in facilitating a conversation regarding parking issues to prevent future damage to property and/or violence.
  • 4th Precinct Acting Inspector Hand has met with SAPs leadership on the above questions.

MINNEAPOLIS — The city of Minneapolis is making changes in the way it handles homeless encampments.

An ordinance proposes more transparency when it comes to tracking locations and resources being offered to people living there.

Encampments are popping up all over and when they are closed it costs the city thousands of dollars and the impact on the lives of people living there cannot be measured.

“I’m appalled to live in a city where my tax dollars pay for bulldozers evicting and re-traumatizing the same group of residents over and over again and that we don’t have the transparency the oversight and the accountability we need to show that any of this is working,” Elizabeth Anderson said.

The City Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee heard testimony on a proposed ordinance focusing on transparency, accountability and oversight for encampment removals.

“I’ve been out here I think two-and-a-half, almost three years,” April said.

April calls these encampments home. She says she needs more than talk. 

“All we hear is just everyone saying this and that and they are trying to help but basically, they are just kicking us out and where are we going to go next,” April said. 

Councilmember Andrea Jenkins is putting together an encampment and unhoused community think tank.

“I totally understand this person and so, consequently, we’re going to be saying what are immediate actions we can take now and what are some long-term actions we can take to be more sustainable,” Jenkins said.

Members with lived experiences and stakeholders will meet three times and have a facilitated conversation.

“If they put in more action than just say the year, I think it will help. Because out here it’s hard. It’s scary sometimes. We just need a direction on where to go, you know, other than just you got to pack up you got to go,” April said.

April is optimistic and just hopes it happens fast to keep this growing problem from getting worse.

“Help us instead of trying to kick us out show us something that you do care about the people,” April said.

An amended version of the ordinance passed focuses on the cost of removing encampments and tracking the outcome of those displaced.

Think tank meetings begin next week.