In the early hours of May 14, 2025, the life of 29-year-old Hispanic/Latino male Michael Leonel Barreto of Richfield, Minnesota, was tragically cut short in a south Minneapolis alley. His death marked another grim statistic in a recent surge of homicides that had unsettled the city after a period of relative calm. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner would later confirm that Barreto died from a gunshot wound to the chest, ruling the manner of death a homicide.
The events leading to the
discovery of Barreto began around 1:20 a.m. with a ShotSpotter activation on the 3000 block of 17th Avenue South. However, when Minneapolis police officers responded to the alert, they found no immediate evidence of gunfire. About thirty minutes later, at approximately 1:50 a.m., a 911 call brought police back to the same area, near East Lake Street and 17th Avenue South. The caller reported hearing a gunshot about 20 minutes prior and had found a person down in the alley north of 3016 17th Avenue South.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Barreto suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. They administered immediate medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived and transported him to Hennepin Healthcare. Despite the efforts to save him, Michael Leonel Barreto was pronounced dead at the hospital. The alley where he was found, just behind the Panaderia San Miguel bakery, was processed for evidence by forensic scientists as investigators began the arduous task of piecing together the final moments of his life.
In the wake of the shooting, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara issued a statement decrying the violence, saying, "This man was left for dead in an alley. We cannot, and will not, stand by and tolerate this kind of violence in our city." As of the initial reports on the morning of his death, no arrests had been made in connection with the homicide. Law enforcement officials have urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward, offering the possibility of anonymity through CrimeStoppers, as the investigation into who is responsible for Michael Leonel Barreto's death remains ongoing.
