On Monday, teenager Andre Conley who was an outreach coordinator for a Republican congressional campaign was shot and killed in Minneapolis.
MPR News reports, “Minneapolis police say the 17-year-old male victim died at the scene of the shooting on Fremont Avenue North. Another man, Diontae Rayquan Wallace, was also shot but was hospitalized with non-life-threatening wounds.”
Local Educators Pay Tribute To Andre Conley, 17, Killed In Mpls. Drive-By Shooting https://t.co/Ms81XxrFv3 pic.twitter.com/KhdimagYwB
— WCCO – CBS Minnesota (@WCCO) September 16, 2020
Republican Johnson Laments ‘Shocking And Unnecessary Acts Of Violence’
Both victims worked for Republican Lacy Johnson’s congressional campaign, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Johnson said of the incident, lamenting the violence and loss of life, “It is shocking and unnecessary acts of violence like this that prove why change is needed now more than ever in our community.”
“The shooting did not occur during a campaign or outreach and we do not believe it has any connection to their work for the campaign,” he added.
Our hearts go out to the families of Diontae Rayquan Wallace and Andre Conley, two Henry High students who were killed this week by senseless gun violence. Henry and North High principals joined other educators to call for an end to the violence. @MPS_News https://t.co/mxRfdBP8i5
— AchieveMpls (@AchieveMpls) September 16, 2020
Victim Andre Conley Was Entering His Senior Year Of High School
MPR News reported,”Police say a preliminary investigation found the two were standing outside a service station when they were approached on foot by the assailant. The shooting suspect fled on foot.”
Minneapolis’ Star Tribune reported Tuesday, “Minneapolis police continued their search Tuesday for a suspect or suspects they say fatally shot a Patrick Henry High School student who was standing outside a North Side convenience store the day before.”
A Facebook post from school officials who work at the high school where Conley was entering his senior year expressed remorse for his loss.
PHamily Community, It is with a heavy heart that we share that we have lost one of our 12th grade students, Andre…
Posted by Patrick Henry High School on Tuesday, September 15, 2020
RELATED: GOP Challenger To Ilhan Omar Slams ‘Reckless’ Call To Dismantle Police
“We know this event affects our school community greatly,” the statement read. “We all share in the grief and sense of loss, and we are working together to support the family, as well as our students and staff.”
“We have school counselors, social workers and other staff available to speak with students at any time during the day,” the school offered.
Issues pertaining to law enforcement and public safety have been central in the Johnson vs. Omar campaign. In June, Johnson denounced Rep. Omar’s call to defund the police “reckless.”