UPDATED: Large Police Response to Reported Shots Fired in Newport Ends With No Evidence of Shooting
Published: July 29th, 2026 | Last Updated: July 29, 2026 at 5:20 PM.
NEWPORT, MINNESOTA: A newly obtained incident report from this incident reveals the extensive law enforcement response that unfolded Tuesday evening after multiple 911 reports indicated a possible shooting inside an apartment building in Newport.
The incident began at approximately 7:43 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, when the Washington County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to Red Rock Square II Apartments, located in the 100 block of Red Rock Xing, after reports of screaming followed by what witnesses believed were gunshots. The incident was classified as a "Shooting Complaint."
Multiple 911 Reports Prompt Immediate Response
According to the sheriff's office, dispatchers received information from callers reporting that they heard someone scream, followed by two loud bangs.
Investigators later learned that one person had texted 911 saying they heard someone yell "f* you b****"** before hearing what sounded like two gunshots. Another emergency text message simply stated, "need ambo and cops."
Based on those reports, deputies believed someone inside the apartment complex may have suffered life-threatening injuries, prompting an immediate tactical response.
Deputies Form Contact Teams and Clear Apartment Building
When deputies arrived, they found no vehicles or people leaving the apartment complex. Officers quickly established containment around the building while additional law enforcement secured the exterior to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the area.
Believing someone inside may have been injured, deputies invoked the Emergency Aid Doctrine, allowing officers to enter apartments where necessary without waiting for residents to answer the door. Officers then conducted a systematic, apartment-by-apartment search using room-clearing techniques typically reserved for high-risk incidents.
According to the report, deputies searched residences, bathrooms, closets, living spaces, hallways, and common areas while working to locate any possible victims and eliminate any active threat.
Multiple Agencies Assist in Extensive Search
The operation involved personnel from the:
Washington County Sheriff's Office
Cottage Grove Police Department
Woodbury Police Department
Minnesota State Patrol
Deputies methodically searched all four floors of the apartment complex. A supplemental report also states officers checked the underground parking garage and the roof to ensure no victims or suspects had been overlooked. Officers reported that no force was used during the incident.
Search Finds No Victims, Suspects or Evidence
Despite the significant police response and exhaustive search, investigators found no evidence that a shooting had occurred.
According to the report, deputies located:
No victims
No suspects
No shell casings
No firearms
No evidence of any traumatic incident
After searching the entire apartment complex, authorities determined there was no active threat to the public.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office previously stated that deputies and assisting agencies conducted a thorough search after residents reported hearing screaming followed by two loud bangs, but found no evidence of a shooting or anyone who had been injured.
Security Cameras Showed No Suspicious Activity
A supplemental report filed the following morning states that the apartment building's manager reviewed surveillance footage after the incident.
According to the report, no suspicious activity was captured on the building's security cameras, further supporting investigators' conclusion that no shooting had occurred.
Scene Cleared
After completing the extensive search and determining there was no danger to residents, law enforcement cleared the scene at approximately 9:37 p.m. At this time, authorities have not determined what caused the screaming and loud noises that prompted multiple emergency calls.
Although the investigation ultimately found no evidence of gunfire, the reports illustrate the level of response law enforcement deploys when information suggests someone may be in immediate danger. Deputies noted that because they reasonably believed a shooting victim could be inside the building, they acted under exigent circumstances to rapidly search every apartment where assistance might have been needed.
In a statement, Newport Mayor Elliott said, “Although the investigation did not identify evidence of a shooting, we encourage residents to call 9-1-1 anytime they believe there may be an emergency or are concerned about public safety.”
