Five people were shot and suffered injuries, Minneapolis police said on Twitter today, with local media reporting that the incident occurred at a protest over the fatal shooting by police of a black man.
The police tweeted that officers are "searching for 3 white male suspects."
Late yesterday police heard "the sound of multiple shots fired in the area" one block north of the Minneapolis Police Department's Fourth Precinct, the agency said in a statement.
"Shortly after, numerous 911 calls came in reporting that five people had been shot," the department said.
Police confirmed on Twitter that "5 people shot near 4th PCT, transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries."
"Dozens of officers responded almost immediately attending to victims and secured the scene," the department said in its statement.
Three victims were taken to North Memorial Medical Center by private vehicle and two more were taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance, the police department said.
The alleged hate crime has sent shocked waves among
Indian-American and the Indian community across the United States.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Srinivas Kuchibhotla," said Jay Kansara, director of Government Relations at Hindu American Foundation.
"We are also praying for a speedy recovery for the injured. We call upon the US Department of Justice and local law enforcement to investigate this murder as what it is, a hate crime.
"Anything less will be an injustice to the victims and their families," he said.
Kansara said that the HAF thanks those who put themselves at risk to stop this attack or to bring the perpetrator to justice.
"It is these acts of heroism in our communities that make America great," he said.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help raise funds for sending Kuchibhotla's remains to India.
The shooting incident comes at a time when hate crimes and acts of bigotry have risen notably during the recent months in America.
A Jewish cemetery was vandalised in St Louis, Missouri last week and the offices of Jewish civil society organisations have received bomb threats.
A man was removed from a Chicago-Houston flight after levelling racist taunts at Pakistani and Indian passengers.
