North Minneapolis Demands Accountability, Healing, and Change After Tragic Shooting of Amir Atkins

In response to the tragic death of 11-year-old Amir Atkins, community members in North Minneapolis are demanding a community response.

Amir Atkins, 11, was killed on Monday, June 23 by gunfire at Folwell Park in North Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis police are still investigating the shooting. Chief Brian O’Hara said officers were called to the shooting at Folwell Park just after 2 p.m. on Monday. Witnesses reported seeing a car driving through the park in the grass and two other cars moving through the parking lot at the time of the shooting. Amir was riding in one of the vehicles with his older brother. According to witnesses living nearby the park, Amir's brother got out, carried Amir down the street, pleading for help getting to a hospital.

"In a moment of crisis, his older brother's love shone through as he carried Amir, seeking help," wrote the family. "A compassionate stranger then stepped in to rush them to medical care, but despite their valiant efforts, Amir could not be saved."

The Medical Examiner noted his cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.

In the following days, community leaders, mothers, organizers, and clergy stood together to issue a plea to Black families and to the broader systems of government — for accountability, for cultural transformation, and for immediate action to prevent the next tragedy.

In the wake of the tragic shooting death of 11-year-old Amir Atkins at Folwell Park, voices from the North Minneapolis community are rising with a unified message: the violence must stop, and the healing must begin.

Demand for parental accountability

Angela Williams, a North Minneapolis resident and community organizer, called on Black parents to take responsibility for their children and their households.

"It's time to clean your house. It's time to step up," said Angela, urging parents to restore discipline and structure at home and to stop turning a blind eye to violence and criminal behavior among youth. "We want the foolishness to stop, so these kids won't be killing each other. We don't don't want them killed and we don't want them killing. So whatever we got to do. It’s us killing us. What are we gonna do about it?"

Angela also emphasized the importance of voting, community engagement, and using available resources.

"There are tons of organizations out here that can help you with whatever it is that you're dealing with," said Angela. "We don't want to see our children incarcerated. We don't want to see them harmed, but we do want to seek justice for the families and the community that we all live in."

“The Community Allowed This”

Rev. Tim Christopher echoed Angela’s urgency, adding a sharp critique of both community complacency and systemic failure. “When kids are being murdered in the streets and parents can only recognize them by their shoes — that’s enough,” said Rev. Tim. “You can keep electing the same people all you want. But if you expect something different, then do different.”

Rev. Tim criticized mismanaged funding and called for tangible investment in community infrastructure, including jobs and programs that give children purpose and pathways — from trades to education.

“We need Totem Town,” he said, referring to the former juvenile treatment center. "We need a place for our kids to go, to grow, to learn how to live differently."

He then offered this prayer. "Father, help us get back to that place to where we became a village, a village that takes care of everybody, a village that will open up the door no matter what is going on. A village that will speak out and say, 'I saw you when you did it.'"

Rev. Tim Christopher prays for the community to come together.

“This Is Not Normal”

Princess Titus, who lost her 16-year-old son Anthony to gun violence, spoke powerfully through tears. “This blood sport of gun violence in our streets — this is not normal. This is not acceptable. This must not continue.”

She also offered a moving tribute to Amir and a critique of the systems that fail Black children.

"This is a beautiful Black baby boy, a king, a child that was still growing, still discovering, still dreaming. Amir, I say to your spirit that we are praying for justice for your life and change today, and we are praying for a healthy and supportive grief journey of healing, for your loved ones that miss you so.

Princess underscored the layered traumas Black youth endure: hunger, neglect, biased teachers, inadequate healthcare, and systemic over-policing.

"There’s so many violences that happen to young children before a weapon is even introduced," she said. "When we say your name today, young man, we say it with ‘enough to the system that plagues us and enough to our souls that accept this culture of violence as our culture.'"

She urged the community to show emotion, nurture their children, and reject shame and silence: "Don't let shame keep you quiet. Don't let fear keep you isolated, because it's the secrets that keep us sick."

“We Need Healing for Our Men”

Tyanna Bryant, a mother of six boys, including an 11-year-old, spoke directly to the need for emotional and spiritual healing in Black families, especially among men.

"We need healing for our Black men so that they can raise their sons and lead and show them the right way, so that these boys aren't getting offended over the smallest things and want to take a gun out to shoot people," Tyanna said.

"It’s sad when our little boys are able to shoot up a park. It's sad when our little boys are able to take a car and go joyriding, because they need some attention. It is very sad, and we need a solution. So we need healing."

As the community mourns Amir, whose name now joins too long a list, there is a resounding cry not just for justice, but for transformation. Amir's mother needs support during this difficult time. If you are able to help, there is a GoFundMe set up for donations.

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Police say there is at least one shooter, though multiple people were present at the time it occurred. They are asking anyone who was at the park Monday afternoon to call 911, leave a voicemail at 612-673-5845 or email policetips@minneapolismn.gov. You can also anonymously contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).