Shooting at Minneapolis library leaves victim paralyzed - New York News | NYC Breaking News

A man shot in the back while in the bathroom of the Minneapolis Franklin Library on Wednesday afternoon is now paralyzed from the waist down from the gunshot wound.

The victim was approached by a man and "brutally attacked," said Robbery Unit Commander Lt. Mike Fossum. The victim fought back against the assailant, breaking free from him as the gunman fired a round into his spine around 12:30 p.m.

Officials say the victim, a homeless man from Sudan, was washing himself in the restroom at the time of the attack, and did not understand what was being said to him.

Staff members at the library heard the shot ring out and rushed to help the man, who told those staffers that he thought he was going to die.

"He was telling me he's already dead from the back, and he [was] sure he will die," said Ahmed Ahmed, a library employee. "He said, 'Please, help me to recite my last rites,' like he was giving up."

According to Ahmed, he was convinced he was going to die and asked the police not to question him so he could finish reciting his last rites. Eventually, he told officers who he was what transpired.

The suspect was able to flee the scene of 1314 Franklin Avenue before police arrived to find the wounded victim. He was taken to HCMC for treatment, but doctors deemed him paralyzed due to the bullet that is still lodged in his spine.

Three security cameras at the library caught images of the suspect -- and police say the images are very clear; however, no arrests have been made so far.