Two Wounded in Valentine’s Night Targeted Shooting at a Columbia Heights Restaurant; Authorities Investigating

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN

A Valentine’s Day evening meant for quiet dinners and neighborhood gatherings was punctured by gunfire Saturday night when a man opened fire inside a restaurant along Central Avenue, wounding two people before fleeing on foot, according to authorities.

At approximately 8:45 p.m. on February 14, 2026, officers with the Columbia Heights Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at New York Gyro, located in the 4600 block of Central Avenue Northeast. They were joined by the Coon Rapids Police Department, the Fridley Police Department, deputies from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, and paramedics with Allina EMS.

Authorities say a male suspect entered the restaurant and fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene. By the time first responders arrived, two victims — an adult man and a juvenile teenage boy — had already been transported to a local hospital by others in their group.

Both were reported to be in stable condition as of Sunday, February 15.

A Scene Quickly Secured

The stretch of Central Avenue near 46th Avenue was sealed off late into the night as investigators processed the scene. Television crews, including reporters from KMSP-TV (FOX 9), observed crime scene technicians concentrating their efforts behind the restaurant and in the adjacent parking lot, areas illuminated by portable floodlights and marked by evidence flags.

Authorities have not released surveillance images or a detailed physical description of the suspect.

“Not a Random Act”

In a public statement, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office indicated that early findings suggest the shooting was not random, signaling investigators believe the suspect may have had a specific target or connection to the victims. Officials have not elaborated on a possible motive.

“No arrests have been made,” the Sheriff’s Office stated, adding that the case remains under active investigation.

The Columbia Heights Police Department and Anoka County Sheriff’s Office are leading the joint inquiry.

Call for Public Assistance

Investigators are asking anyone who was in the area of 46th and Central Avenue NE at the time of the shooting — or who may have dashcam or surveillance footage — to come forward.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Anoka County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 763-427-1212.

A Corridor Under Watch

Central Avenue NE is one of Columbia Heights’ busiest commercial corridors, lined with family-owned restaurants, retail storefronts, and late-night establishments that draw patrons from across the north metro. While law enforcement emphasized that the incident appears targeted, the violence unsettled an otherwise routine weekend evening in a tightly knit community.

As investigators work to determine what precipitated the gunfire inside New York Gyro, the two victims remain hospitalized and recovering. For now, police are withholding additional details, citing the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Officials say more information will be released as it becomes available.

MinneapoliMedia