Lake Calhoun homicide pushes Minneapolis past 2009 mark

West Lake Calhoun Parkway, better known for its views of one of the most popular lakes in Minneapolis, became the scene of the city's 20th homicide last night after police found the body of a man shot dead there in a park.

The death means that Minneapolis has now recorded more homicides -- 20 -- in the first five months of 2010 than the 19 in all of 2009.

Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. Bill Palmer said officers from the Park Police and the Fifth Precinct responded to a shots-fired call in the area of 3150 West Lake Calhoun Parkway at about 10:15 p.m. When officers arrived they found they found that bullets had gone through windows in an adjacent apartment building in the 3100 block of West Calhoun Parkway.

Just after 11 p.m., while officers were in the area talking to witnesses, an officer discovered a man who had apparently been shot inside the park near West Calhoun Parkway and 32nd Street. EMS crews responded to the scene but the man was declared dead at the scene.

No arrests have been made. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the name of the victim later. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the TIPS Line at 612-692-TIPS (8477).