Vikings DT Linval Joseph Hit By Stray Bullet In Nightclub Shooting

Nine people were shot—including Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph, who was struck in the calf—in a Minneapolis club at around 1:40 a.m. Saturday morning. Two of the victims were described in serious condition, but are stable and expected to survive. According to the Vikings, Joseph was an innocent bystander to a gang-related shooting.

The shooting occurred at the 400 Soundbar at 3rd Avenue and 4th Street N., about 1:40 a.m. Off-duty police officers responded to the shots fired and found nine people injured with gunshot wounds, including one victim who needed CPR at the scene. Police said Saturday that the incident is gang-related, with the suspect targeting one of the victims.

"This is an isolated incident," Assistant Police Chief Matt Clark said. "It's very unusual for the downtown area." Police recovered the weapon at the scene.

According to the owner of the club, it came out of nowhere. "'Suddenly, a person just pop, pop, pop." The shooter then apparently dropped his gun and took off before security could react. Police are still trying to track him down.

The shooting occurred shortly after the Vikings beat the Raiders 10-6 in their preseason opener Friday night. Joseph, a Minnesota free agency pickup in March, briefly played in the game. His injuries were not serious and he was treated at the hospital and released without incident. Joseph is not expected to miss much time from camp; the Vikings said he should be back on the field later this week.

Photo Credit: AP Images

9 people shot inside Warehouse District nightclub [Star-Tribune]