Gunfire early Saturday in downtown Minneapolis left two people dead and three wounded, police said — one of at least three shootings after midnight that injured people across the city.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said officers were responding to multiple fights near N. 5th Street and Hennepin Avenue when they heard gunshots just before 2 a.m. Saturday. Officers rushed to the scene and found five victims, who were given medical aid before being transported to area hospitals.

Two men, ages 20 and 21, died, O'Hara said. Two girls, ages 16 and 17, and a 23-year-old woman sustained noncritical injuries.

A man was arrested on suspicion of riot in connection with the shooting, but authorities are still investigating his role. The Hennepin County jail log shows the suspect is 25 years old. Police said they recovered a firearm and other evidence from the scene.

"Five families had their lives changed last night, and our hearts go out to them," Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell said at a news conference Saturday, adding that the police department will increase the number of officers in the area. "It's extraordinarily tragic what we're seeing across the country, that these arguments escalate into violence so quickly, and particularly into gun violence,"

She added: "We're supplementing our late-night safety plan downtown, and Hennepin County Sheriff [Dawanna] Witt is going to be assisting, sending us resources."

"MPD investigators will work tirelessly to bring whoever is responsible for this tragic incident to justice," O'Hara said. "We will continue with our late-night safety plan, and work with our law enforcement and community-based partners to enhance the level of safety for all."

At least two other shootings also were reported early Saturday in Minneapolis.

A man was wounded around 12:48 a.m. after a shooting in the 3000 block of Lyndale Avenue S. Officers gave the man medical aid until he was transported to HCMC with non-life threatening injuries.

Another shooting, reported at 2:46 a.m. in the 5400 block of Nicollet Avenue, injured two. Officers found evidence of gunfire on the scene and were told that two men were taken to HCMC in a private vehicle. Both men had non-life threatening injuries.

Police have announced no arrests in either of those cases.

The violence comes a week after an SUV drove into a crowd after a fight at the same intersection as the downtown shooting. Latalia Anjolie Margalli is charged with one count of second-degree murder and five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the crash that killed De'Miaya Broome and injured several others shortly after 12:20 a.m. on Sept. 14.

There have been five homicides in Minneapolis since last weekend, bringing the year's total to 57. There were 47 homicides in Minneapolis at this time in 2023, according to a Star Tribune database.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this story.