In the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis on the evening of October 1, 2020, the life of 38-year-old Maurice Sykes Speltz, a Black male, was tragically cut short. Police officers in the vicinity of 26th Street East and Bloomington Avenue were drawn to the sound of a gunshot, a sound that was simultaneously registered by a ShotSpotter activation in the area. Responding to the alerts, they discovered Mr.
Speltz lying in the roadway, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Officers found him without a pulse and immediately began administering CPR in a desperate attempt to save his life. Paramedics soon arrived and took over, transporting him to Hennepin Healthcare. Despite their efforts, Maurice Sykes Speltz succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 10:29 PM. The cause of his death was later determined to be a gunshot wound to the torso, and the manner of death was officially ruled a homicide.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Minneapolis Police Department launched an investigation into the city's 63rd homicide of the year. Authorities appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the person or persons responsible for Mr. Speltz's death. However, in the days following the incident, no arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly identified. The investigation into the death of Maurice Sykes Speltz remains ongoing, leaving his family and community searching for answers and justice.
