On the evening of May 5, 2025, a tragic event unfolded in downtown Minneapolis that cut short the life of 14-year-old Thor William Wagaman Walsh, a White male. The incident occurred at approximately 9:03 p.m. near the Federal Reserve Bank building located at 90 Hennepin Avenue. Thor was in the company of his two younger brothers when they encountered a group of about a dozen teenagers.
An altercation broke out between the groups, escalating quickly and violently.
During the confrontation, one of the teenagers in the other group produced a firearm and shot Thor multiple times. His two younger brothers were present and witnessed the horrific event. Emergency responders were called to the scene and transported Thor to the Hennepin Healthcare emergency room. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and officially ruled his death a homicide.
In the wake of the shooting, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara revealed that Thor was known to law enforcement, having been both a victim and a suspect in previous shooting incidents. The investigation into his death is ongoing, with authorities reviewing surveillance footage and seeking information from witnesses to identify the individual responsible for the shooting. As of May 8, 2025, no arrests had been made in connection with Thor's murder. Community leaders and law enforcement have expressed their concerns over the rise in youth violence and the accessibility of firearms to teenagers.
