Police say that the shooting outside the Eden Prairie High School football stadium during Friday’s homecoming game against Minnetonka was “gang related,” with two teens hospitalized.

No arrests have been made, but police say the shooting is likely gang-related, with the two victims “known to law enforcement.”

Neither of the teens involved were students at Eden Prairie or Minnetonka High Schools.

The game was completed on Saturday morning, with Eden Prairie winning 20-14.

Latest Update

Eden Prairie Schools…Facebook postings on the night of the incident….

A message from EPHS Principal Dr. Jaysen Anderson:

Good morning EPHS Families,

As a principal and a parent, I want to acknowledge how hard last night was for our community, and also the feelings and needs that will continue to show up over the coming days. Due to last night’s tragic and unfortunate event, we will not be holding our Homecoming Dance this evening.

While we believe we would have the planning, resources and support to make tonight’s event safe and enjoyable, holding a dance less than 24 hours after a trauma in our community feels out of place. Too many students, staff and families were directly impacted, and we need to be prepared to adequately support all students and staff when they return to the building on Monday. I will share more about what that looks like tomorrow (Sunday) by 9 p.m.

I will meet with student leadership and staff advisors early next week to determine next steps regarding a dance and other ways our community can come together to care for one another and show what it means to be an Eagle. And I want to be clear that despite the tragedy of last night, I was also deeply moved and inspired by people across our community showing what Eagle pride looks like at its best through the care and support they showed in a moment we all never wanted to experience.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding, and take care of yourselves and those that you love.

Dr. Jaysen Anderson, Principal
Eden Prairie High School

Final update this evening on EPHS Homecoming as of 11:37 p.m.

Tonight was a hard night for our community. A night that was meant to celebrate all that makes us Eagles was tarnished by the selfish and violent acts of a few. And yet, in this moment, we saw our community shine.

With the support of the Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD), the Eden Prairie Fire Department, Hennepin County EMS and neighboring law enforcement, the area was secured quickly and our students, staff, families and guests were kept safe. Our school administrators at the high school, other district administrators, and staff who were on site managed the situation extremely well, effectively executing on our ongoing training. Our community took care of one another and our visitors, leading to an evacuation with zero injuries that was almost entirely complete within an hour. This is what it means to be an Eagle, and I could not be more proud.

Key information to know:

  • EPPD confirmed the two victims were not Eden Prairie or Minnetonka students.
  • Vehicles in the Eden Prairie High School north parking lot can be retrieved anytime. Any vehicles left in the lot overnight can be picked up tomorrow.
  • The EPPD will provide ongoing updates about the investigation into this incident. Please follow their communication for additional information.
  • Updates about events and activities being held at the high school tomorrow will be communicated directly by EPHS and the Activities Office.
  • Tomorrow’s Eagle Excellence Showcase will continue as planned.
  • At this time, we are planning for school on Monday and will have additional resources and staff on site to support students and staff.
  • We have resources available on our website about how to discuss this incident with your children: https://my.edenpr.org/mental-health
  • For more information about how we handle emergencies and critical incidents, visit https://my.edenpr.org/emergency-management

As with any critical incident, we will learn from this event and continue to improve our responses. Tonight, though, I am so grateful to be part of this community.

Dr. Josh Swanson
Superintendent

PLEASE SEE LATEST POST FOR FINAL OCT. 2 UPDATE.

Update as of 10:35 p.m.: Good evening, Eden Prairie Schools community,

At tonight’s homecoming game, the Eden Prairie Police Department responded to shots fired outside of the stadium on the north side of the high school. Two individuals were injured and received medical care. EPPD, in partnership with school administrators, quickly secured the scene and supported evacuation efforts. Eden Prairie Fire Department and Hennepin County EMS also made sure students, families, staff and guests were cared for during this time.

The police investigation into this incident is ongoing. Please avoid the Community Center and EPHS area. There is a significant law enforcement presence at the stadium.

This was a scary time for everyone involved, and there are many questions we cannot answer at this time. However, we are grateful for the quick response of everyone, from staff to law enforcement to attendees. We will not speculate about who was involved, what led to the incident or other circumstances until that information has been confirmed by our law enforcement partners.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during a time of uncertainty, and we will continue to provide updates as they are available. In a very difficult time, we are inspired by our community and the many ways people stepped up to care for one another.

Update as of 10:15 p.m.: Everyone within EPHS should be exiting the building and heading to Round Lake Park. EPPD continues to support reunification efforts. With the situation secure, we’ll provide another update in 20 minutes.

Update as of 10:03 p.m.: The North parking lot will be unavailable for the foreseeable future. Anyone needing a ride should head to Round Lake Park. Evacuation continues to move slowly but smoothly. We’ll provide another update in 10 minutes.

Update as of 9:55 p.m.: The HOLD at EHPS has been lifted and everyone is being directed to exit out of the South doors and head toward Round Lake Park. We’ll provide another update in 10 minutes.

Update as of 9:52 p.m.: The specific reunification gathering location for players, marching band, and any new students and families arriving to Round Lake Park will be at the pavilion south of the tennis courts. Cars will be directed to complete the turnaround. Eden Prairie Police Department has confirmed there is no active threat in the area. We’ll provide another update in 10 minutes.

Update as of 9:43 p.m.: We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to manage this situation. Evacuation continues with the support of law enforcement. Those inside Eden Prairie High School are currently on a HOLD, which means movement throughout the building is limited. Students inside the building have the support of staff. We’ll provide another update in 10 minutes.

Update as of 9:32 p.m.: Evacuation of the area around the high school continues. Eden Prairie Schools, Eden Prairie Police Department, Eden Prairie Fire Department and Hennepin County EMS are working closely to keep the area secure and support reunification efforts. We’ll provide another update in 10 minutes.

Update as of 9:22 p.m.: Eden Prairie Police Department has secured the area. Evacuation continues for all attendees. Expect slow traffic in the area and follow all directions from law enforcement. We’ll provide another update within 10 minutes.

Update as of 9:14 p.m.: There has been an emergency requiring a police response. Again, all students, families and staff are evacuating homecoming. People should either head to the baseball diamonds to exit, or for those who need to be picked up head to Round Lake Park. We will provide another update within 10 minutes.

Original message: We’re evacuating homecoming. All visitors being directed Round Lake Park for reunification. We’ll provide an update within 10 minutes.