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Minneapolis nightclub shooting: Mother seeks answers in son’s unsolved murder

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Minneapolis nightclub shooting: Mother seeks answers in son’s unsolved murder


The family of Gabriel Mendoza is still searching for justice more than three years after he was killed while working security outside a nightclub in Uptown.

Remembering a night that changed everything

What we know:

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Mendoza was working security outside the Firehouse Restaurant and Lounge in Uptown when he was shot just before midnight on a Saturday in October 2022. 

He was in the back of the building, surveying the area and making sure things were safe when shots were fired.

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“He’s surveying the ground making sure things are safe and secure, gets caught in crossfire, gets hit in the neck and is still able to usher people inside who were out here into safety,” said Katrina Mendoza, Gabriel’s mother. “That’s what I believe, I don’t know for sure though.”

Police and Mendoza’s family believe there were many people outside the club that night who may have seen or heard something important. 

Investigators think it’s possible some witnesses have not come forward, either because they believe their information is not significant or they assume someone else has already spoken to police.

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The club where Mendoza worked is no longer there, but for his mother, returning to the area is still painful. 

“I get a physical reaction when I come into this area like right now as I’m talking to you I feel completely nauseous. This is where somebody took my son’s life, and he was such a light in the world, not just our family but in the community,” said Mendoza.

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A mother’s determination and community outreach

Why you should care:

Mendoza’s family has never stopped seeking justice. His mother, Katrina, has rented an LED billboard in hopes of getting answers and calls the investigator on the case weekly. She has also started a nonprofit called The Blue House to help other families dealing with unsolved murders find support and resources.

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“I’m hoping the reason that people haven’t said anything is because they don’t think they have enough information, but they might have the missing piece of the puzzle,” said Mendoza.

When asked about her determination to find justice for her son, Mendoza said, “Until my last breath. I’ll be out here telling his story.”

Gabriel Mendoza was known for his serious, protective energy at work, but those who knew him personally remember his sense of humor, love for break dancing and music, and his talent in sports. He was a protector, especially for those who needed it most.

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Mendoza’s family and police continue to ask anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Callers can remain anonymous, and every detail could help bring closure to a family and a community still searching for answers.

What we don’t know:

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Police have not identified any suspects, and it’s still unclear who fired the shots that killed Mendoza. 

It’s also unknown if any new leads have come in as a result of the billboard or nonprofit outreach.

The Source: This story uses information gathered by FOX 9’s Karen Scullin. 

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis shooting leaves man dead outside building on Chicago Ave

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Minneapolis shooting leaves man dead outside building on Chicago Ave


A man has died after he was shot in Minneapolis Wednesday morning. 

Fatal shooting on Chicago Avenue

What we know:

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According to Minneapolis police, officers responded around 11 a.m. to reports of a shooting on the 1900 block of Chicago Avenue. 

Police say that a man in his 20s was shot outside a building on Chicago Avenue. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. 

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What we don’t know:

Police did not say what led up to the shooting, and they did not share any suspect details. 

Police did not say if any arrests have been made. 

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The Source: A press release from the Minneapolis Police Department. 

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Operation Metro Surge cost Minneapolis $700 million, city leaders say

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Operation Metro Surge cost Minneapolis 0 million, city leaders say


Operation Metro Surge cost Minneapolis nearly $700 million in lost wages and business closures, according to an updated assessment city leaders released Wednesday.

The report looked at figures from December 2025 through April 2026. Previously, the city had released data showing that the federal immigration enforcement action cost the city $203 million in January alone.

The Whittier and Central neighborhoods were the most impacted, the analysis says, as those areas reported the most Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity during the surge.

Colonial Market’s Daniel Hernandez said he was selling just 15% of his stock during the surge at his south Minneapolis location. He had only just opened the grocery store in November 2024, and despite a strong start, revenue only declined as community members faced uncertainty about immigration policies. He said he’s forced to shut down his Lake Street location after losing $3 million.  

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“I might be in the floor right now but I know I’m going to go up again,” said Hernandez. “Because our community deserves a place that cares about them, and that place is us, Colonial Market.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey touted the city’s small business resiliency fund, which last week sent license fee refunds to 1,200 businesses. 

“Minneapolis is resilient, we’re compassionate, we’re tough and we have consistently shown grit,” Frey said, while encouraging residents to patron restaurants and stores.

According to new research from North Star Policy Action, the state’s leisure and hospitality industry was the most deeply impacted sector across the state. The sector also represents 8.7% of the state’s workforce and is on average one of the lowest-paid industries, with most employees working paycheck-to-paycheck.

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Minneapolis Cafe Cuts Prices to Zero in Protest—and Profits Rise

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Minneapolis Cafe Cuts Prices to Zero in Protest—and Profits Rise



A Minneapolis diner scrapped its prices in protest—and is somehow making more money. That’s the crux of a New York Times piece on Modern Times, a 15-year neighborhood staple that became “Post Modern Times” after owner Dylan Alverson decided he no longer wanted to collect sales tax for a government he saw as harming his community during the massive ICE operation there this winter. In January, he switched to a donation-only model “for the remainder of the government occupation,” braced for collapse, and instead watched his business surge, even though roughly half of his customers now pay nothing for their meals.


Reporter Brett Anderson outlines how the experiment has morphed from tax protest into something closer to a social and economic test case. Alverson says he’s finally earning more than he did running a conventional restaurant that pulled in $1.3 million in sales last year and still lost money, aided by merch revenue and outside donations. The change is now permanent. “I have succeeded more than I ever did when I was running a conventional business employing 22 people,” he says. “I think that’s proof that something is wrong.” The streamlined menu remains cooked from scratch; a security presence and staff mediation help manage tensions; and regulars say the space now functions as a rare zone of “economic equality.” For the financials, backlash, and industry context, read the full story at the New York Times.

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