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Libor Jany

Reporter | Minneapolis Public Safety
Phone: 612-673-4064

Libor Jany is the Minneapolis crime reporter for the Star Tribune. He joined the newspaper in 2013, after stints in newsrooms in Connecticut, New Jersey, California and Mississippi. He spent his first year working out of the paper's Washington County bureau, focusing on transportation and education issues, before moving to the Dakota County team.


Jany got his start in journalism in the sports department of his hometown paper, the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He attended Lewis & Clark College (Portland, Ore.) and Mississippi State University, majoring in communications with a minor in sociology. In his free time, he likes traveling, having visited 25 countries on six continents, including Pakistan in the summer of 2017. He was born in Czechoslovakia, and has lived in Gabon, France and seven U.S. states.
Recent content from Libor Jany
Balloons marked a memorial Friday for Deshaun Hill Jr., 15, who was shot near the corner of Golden Valley Road and Penn Avenue N. in Minneapolis on We

Community reels after student killed, bus driver hurt in Mpls.

Student Deshaun Hill, who died Thursday, will be honored at a North High basketball game this weekend.
Two people were found shot to death in a car in north Minneapolis, police said.

Two found shot dead in car in north Minneapolis

Their identities have not yet been released.
Teen, bus driver hurt in separate shootings in north Minneapolis

Teen, bus driver hurt in separate shootings in north Minneapolis

The shootings occurred early Wednesday afternoon.
Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman introduced her leadership picks on Jan. 26 at City Hall. Several officers, including David Garman, wer

Once-fired officer promoted to Mpls. police training director

David Garman was one of several officials with checkered pasts who have been elevated by interim Chief Huffman.
Aria Love held a Black Lives Matter sign during a car caravan through downtown Minneapolis on Friday night to protest the shooting death of Amir Locke

Mpls. police wanted 'no knock' warrant; city sets moratorium

St. Paul police applied for a standard search warrant for the predawn raid Wednesday that ended in the shooting death of Amir Locke, but were overruled by Minneapolis police, according to a source. The revelation came as city leaders announced a moratorium on all no-knock warrants pending a review.
Body cam footage released of Minneapolis police during a search warrant operation Wednesday that ultimately led to the fatal shooting of Amir Locke in

Video: Locke, under blanket, holds gun as officers enter, fire

The 55-second video shows officers at the downtown Minneapolis apartment unit to serve a search warrant in connection with a St. Paul homicide investigation. Amir Locke was not the subject of the warrant.
Minneapolis police shot and killed a man Wednesday morning near a downtown apartment building across from Orchestra Hall while serving an arrest warra

Man shot, killed by Mpls. police was armed with handgun, interim chief says

The shooting reportedly happened just before 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning near a downtown Minneapolis apartment building across from Orchestra Hall.
Among its recommendations are to evaluate switching from two- to one-person patrols and further studying the feasibility of assigning certain nonviole

Long-delayed study reignites Mpls. police staffing debate

The study called for Minneapolis officials to reconsider when and how they deploy police officers but stopped short of saying how many cops the city needs.
From left, former MPD officer Tou Thao, attorney Robert Paule, attorney Natalie Paule, attorney Tom Plunkett, ex-officer J. Alexander Keung, ex-office

Police training, policies under microscope in ex-MPD cops' trial

Unlike Derek Chauvin's trial, which focused on his actions in the killing of George Floyd, this time the Minneapolis Police Department's culture and practices are under the microscope.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman addressed the rise of crime in the city and the efforts to recruit police officer

Minneapolis Mayor Frey's plan to hire 190 police officers is 'a heavy lift'

The city is under pressure both from courts and residents to bolster the force.
A photo of a Glock auto sear, which can modify a handgun into an assault-style weapon.

Teens leaving friend's funeral charged with possession of 'auto-sear'-enhanced guns in Minneapolis

Their arrests came during a law enforcement detail at a gang funeral.
Amelia Huffman is introduced as interim Chief of Police by Mayor Jacob Frey Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 at City Hall in Minneapolis, Minn.

Frey, interim chief plan to hire more officers, expand partnerships

New recruit classes, focus on robbery and carjackings in the works.
Military and security around downtown watched as protesters marched after the Derek Chauvin case went to the jury at the Hennepin Government Center on

Before Chauvin trial, feds warned of cyberattacks, white supremacist violence

Declassified intelligence briefings show that law enforcement authorities were on high alert.
A body camera displayed by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher in 2019.

Problem cops in most agencies not told to keep body cameras on

A model policy created in 2016 recommended special rules requiring body camera use by officers who have a proven history of misconduct. Five years later, fewer than 10 departments across Minnesota have adopted such guidelines.
Minneapolis leaders must keep the number of police officers at a level required in the city charter, a Hennepin County judge ruled Thursday.

Minneapolis study: stress from aggressive policing raises risk of premature births

A new University of Minnesota study has found that the anxiety of living in Minneapolis neighborhoods with a larger police presence may put pregnant mothers…
Homicide Sgt. Chris Karakostas, shown in 2017.

Retired Minneapolis homicide detective who specialized in cold cases dies at 54

Sgt. Chris Karakostas left the department after serving for 29 years.
Minneapolis police homicide detectives Sgt. Twila Villella, from left, Sgt. Luis Porras, and Sgt. Ann Kjos investigated a homicide in Minneapolis in 2

5-year-old boy shot, killed in Brooklyn Park among metro shooting, crash victims identified

Officials identified people killed in three homicides and three fatal crashes in recent days.
Amelia Huffman is introduced as interim Chief of Police today by Mayor Jacob Frey.

Amelia Huffman named interim Minneapolis police chief

Huffman joined in the department in 1994 and now serves as deputy chief.
Minneapolis Chief Medaria Arradondo announces he will retire at the end of this term in mid-January.

Arradondo to retire; both Mpls., St. Paul looking for new police chiefs

Mayor Jacob Frey said he'll soon name an interim successor to Arradondo, who has served in the role since 2017.
St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Allen said her activism began at a young age. “I was always gathering voices and leveraging political power,�

Black women carry burden of local social justice activism

At City Hall, on school boards and in policing reform work, Black women are doing the often unheralded heavy-lifting to fix systems of inequality in Minnesota.
Travis Jordan

Mother of Travis Jordan sues city of Minneapolis, officers who fatally shot mentally ill man in 2018

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, was filed Monday in federal court.
Terrance Franklin was shot 10 times by police in the basement of a home in Uptown.

Mpls. cops who witnessed 2013 shooting want immunity for new info

They are offering information in exchange for immunity in the 2013 fatal police shooting of Terrance Franklin.
Three men were wounded in apparently unrelated shootings that happened within moments of each other Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis, police said.

Three wounded in separate shootings in south Minneapolis

Two of the victims were taken to HCMC for treatment.
London Bean, 12, was a sixth-grader at Sojourner Truth Academy in Minneapolis. He was shot and killed recently after a dispute with a teen.

Man charged with aiding and abetting teen son accused of fatally shooting Minneapolis youth

The suspect, Letterance Grady, has been jailed since his arrest on Nov. 4, jail records show.
Little Falls man dies in semi rollover in Eden Prairie

Little Falls man dies in semi rollover in Eden Prairie

The victim had not yet been identified.
A bicyclist rode near Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis on Tuesday as the rising sun lit up graffiti.

City didn't change charter, but pressure on police remains

Having survived vote, the Minneapolis police force faces a reform push and a new council.
The case is being investigated by a special agent from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Authorities: Victim of car burglary tracks down, shoots theft suspect

The suspect's initial court appearance is set for Thursday.
Charges dismissed for lack of evidence in Minneapolis infant's death case

Charges dismissed for lack of evidence in Minneapolis infant's death case

The defendant in the case had originally been charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo addresses the media regarding the proposed charter amendment that would replace the police department, duri

Arradondo says he has never been approached for his input on charter measure

Minneapolis chief's remarks amid debate set off a frenzy.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo has become a central figure in the first municipal elections since George Floyd’s killing by police.

Chief Medaria Arradondo's fate looms large in Mpls. elections

Arguments over the ballot question to replace the police department often bring in the fate of the popular chief, whose term expires soon.
Video surveillance footage shows the moment a Minneapolis police squad slammed into the driver’s side of an SUV driven by bystander Leneal Frazier d

Mpls. officer charged in pursuit that killed Leneal Frazier

Officer Brian Cummings was pursuing a suspect in an armed carjacking and one or more robberies, according to a police report. It suggested that Cummings ran a red light when he hit the driver's side of Leneal Frazier's SUV.
The BCA released a voluminous number of photos as part of its investigation into the killing of Winston Smith. Many of them showed his vehicle after o

Passenger recounts chaos before Winston Smith was fatally shot

The woman who was with Winston Smith Jr. on the day he was shot and killed by members of a federal law enforcement task force detailed his final chaotic moments in the front seat of a vehicle, according to an interview she gave to investigators.
In the months after George Floyd's death, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, left, and Mayor Jacob Frey announced a series of police policy c

Hiring more officers tops budget list for MPD chief

The Patrol Bureau has seen its numbers dwindle to 307 sworn officers available to respond to 911 calls — a number that Chief Medaria Arradondo said was the lowest of his more than 30 years with the department.
Michelle Gross of Communities United Against Police Brutality, along with other community members, announced that canvassers had so far gathered about

Amid federal probe, police reform canvassers say they've gathered 1,100 complaints

They plan to turn them over to the Justice Department.
A car on E. Lake Street had its rear window shot out the night of Tuesday. Minneapolis police officers investigated after a ShotSpotter report of doze

Illegal gun modification devices multiply; deadly rounds follow

The devices known as 'Glock switches' or 'auto sears' are showing up more and more at Twin Cities crime scenes.
Davion Jones, center, listened to Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo speak at Shiloh Temple on Oct. 2

Minneapolis voters to decide fate of Police Department on Election Day

City awaits crucial vote on initiative to restructure policing.
In July, the city awarded Canopy Mental Health & Consulting a two-year, $6 million contract to provide the professionals who would respond to mental o

Mpls., EMS officials disagreed on police-free mental health service calls

Mpls. and EMS officials disagreed on new mental health service.
Candice Lynch is tormented by the idea that her son’s alleged killers are carrying on with their lives as if nothing happened.

Mother of two slain sons continues grieving, as cases remain unsolved

In both cases police made arrests, but prosecutors dropped the charges.
Medical examiner identifies 8 recent Minneapolis homicide victims

Medical examiner identifies 8 recent Minneapolis homicide victims

Several of the victims had previously been named publicly.
Minneapolis council member's brother stabbed, critically wounded

Minneapolis council member's brother stabbed, critically wounded

The alleged stabber was shot in the same encounter.
Minneapolis homicide victim identified as popular teacher

Minneapolis homicide victim identified as popular teacher

No arrests have been announced in the death of Harvey Williams.
New Orleans police officers took part in 2017 in a new peer-intervention training program, which teaches officers to police each other by intervening

Minneapolis police to get training to speak up over peers' excessive force

The program, called ABLE, is being used by 180 police departments nationwide. Some say it can change police culture.
London Bean, 12, was a sixth-grader at Sojourner Truth Academy in Minneapolis. He was shot and killed recently after a dispute with another child. (fa

Murder charges filed in death of 12-year-old in Minneapolis

The suspect hadn't been arrested as of Thursday morning.
South Minneapolis shooting is city's 7th homicide in 7 days

South Minneapolis shooting is city's 7th homicide in 7 days

It wasn't immediately clear whether any arrests had been made.
Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder

Longtime Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder resigns

Longtime public face was criticized for his initial George Floyd statement.
Longtime community organizer Al Flowers addressed reporters during a Thursday afternoon vigil  for 12-year-old London Bean, who was gunned down during

Anger, grief strong at Minneapolis vigil for slain 12-year-old

Minneapolis has seen a sharp increase in homicides, and a growing number of victims — and some suspects — have been children.
The Star Tribune reviewed roughly 27 months of Fire Department reports, using keywords such as “overdose” “OD,” “Narcan,” and the names of

Pandemic, homelessness brought record overdose calls in Minneapolis

Opium epidemic is spreading to more places in Minneapolis.
During an ice cream social in the Jordan neighborhood of Minneapolis, Audua Pugh held back tears as she talked with neighbors about a recent death in

Groups arise, spurred by Minneapolis gun violence, to enact early interventions

Timing is everything when it comes to traumatic events, advocates say.
Minneapolis police chief breaks silence on charter amendment, calling it 'wholly unbearable'

Minneapolis police chief breaks silence on charter amendment, calling it 'wholly unbearable'

His comments come amid a flurry of reactions by leading Democrats.
Prosecutors charge teen in Minneapolis convenience store slaying

Prosecutors charge teen in Minneapolis convenience store slaying

The charges stem from the Aug. 8 fatal shooting of 26-year-old Darryl Ramon Wells Jr.
Police lined up against protesters two days after the police killing of George Floyd, near the department’s Third Precinct headquarters.

Minneapolis' review of George Floyd protest: Still waiting

More than a year after George Floyd's killing, no complete review is available of Minneapolis' handling of the protests that followed — even as other cities have completed similar studies.
In a memo, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo wrote that the move was made “recognizing the continued importance of examining how we can bet

Minneapolis police to scale back low-level traffic stops

The move was met with cautious optimism by advocacy groups, who said it was a step in the right direction.
Man arrested after fatal stabbing at Loring Park apartment building

Man arrested after fatal stabbing at Loring Park apartment building

It is the city's 61st homicide of the year.
Woman in her 20s found shot to death in alley in Minneapolis' Folwell neighborhood

Woman in her 20s found shot to death in alley in Minneapolis' Folwell neighborhood

Officers were called after sanitation workers making their morning rounds found the woman lying on the ground just west of Folwell Park.
Ladavionne Garrett, Jr., 10, is still hospitalized after being shot in the head in Minneapolis, Minn. on April 30, 2021.

Reward now at $180,000 for information on shootings of three young children in Minneapolis

The children were believed to be unintended targets in the midst of gang violence.
Awwal Ladipo, who married last year and started an internship at an IT firm, had big plans, his mother said.

Man killed in after-hours fight in N. Minneapolis recalled as respectful, generous

No arrests had been announced in the case as of last week, police said.
An HCMC paramedic prepares an ambulance for service as HCMC prepped area media members on operations leading up to and during the Super Bowl Friday, J

Union: Minneapolis rushed civilian mental health plan with no input from paramedics

The paramedics union says it was not included in "any planning or coordination for the new civil response teams."
North Memorial Health Hospital.

Police: Man dies days after fall from punch at party in Minneapolis

No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday morning.
Police arrest man on suspicion of intentionally striking, killing motorcyclist on N. Minneapolis block

Police arrest man on suspicion of intentionally striking, killing motorcyclist on N. Minneapolis block

The 31-year-old man was booked into the county jail on Saturday.
Minneapolis police: Delivery driver shot during attempted carjacking

Minneapolis police: Delivery driver shot during attempted carjacking

Police said they were looking for three suspects in connection with the attempted carjacking and shooting of a Door Dash driver late Wednesday.
Ferome Brown, seen in 2016, calls the complex public housing system in Minneapolis a “gatekeeper” for former gang members trying to get their live

Renting can be tough for reformed gang members

Advocates say the city is struggling to uphold its end of the bargain amid a lack of available affordable housing.
Minneapolis will test a new civilian crisis response corps to handle certain mental health emergencies without police.

Civil response teams, not police, will handle some Mpls. mental health calls

The teams will hit city streets sometime in August on a test basis.
An employee at Stella’s Fish Cafe in Uptown carted away debris Friday night from an arson fire behind the restaurant. The cafe is near where Winston

Upheaval in Uptown now a priority of Minneapolis officials

Social media posts have highlighted lawlessness; city leaders are pledging to take action with stepped-up police patrols.
Authorities ID man fatally shot during gunfire exchange at north Minneapolis party

Authorities ID man fatally shot during gunfire exchange at north Minneapolis party

The 40-year-old man was shot in the head; no arrests announced.
Hennepin EMS proposes to dress its EMTs and paramedics in blue rather than their long-standing “UPS brown” uniforms.

Hennepin EMS union: New blue uniforms too closely resemble police

The new uniforms were supposed to be rolled out this spring, but have yet to debut.
Art KnightPhoto from Minneapolis Police Department

Former senior Mpls. police official files racial discrimination suit after demotion for 'white boys' comment

The suit was originally served on the city in May, but only recently made public.
Mpls. police investigate suspicious death after at nine shot across city

Mpls. police investigate suspicious death after at nine shot across city

No arrests have been announced in any of the incidents.
Farhia Budul spoke with mothers who gathered in Currie Park. Budul is the founder of the Niyyah Recovery Initiative, which touts itself as the first c

Group targets opioid use in East African community

Generation Hope offers culturally sensitive care for those faced with the stigma of drugs and addiction.
Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Amelia Huffman, seen in 2019, said the department will look for trainers who “exemplify MPD values” to ensure “t

Mpls. seeks more accountability in police training program

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey promised Monday to improve police training after an audit found that the department's decentralized field training system allowed trainers to operate with little scrutiny.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo stood with a group of 2017 police academy graduates as they took their class photo following a graduation c

In time of need, Mpls. struggles to recruit new police officers

Pursuing diversity, new culture amid departures is an uphill climb.
1st-degree murder charges dropped against three men in 2020 Minneapolis fatal shooting

1st-degree murder charges dropped against three men in 2020 Minneapolis fatal shooting

The charges were dropped on Tuesday.
Police and investigators on the scene where additional human remains were found at East Franklin Avenue and West River Parkway. They are believed to b

More remains from same victim found in Mpls., police say

The remains, believed to be from the same 36-year-old man identified last week, were discovered Tuesday morning more than 3 miles from where the initial discoveries were made. No arrests have been announced.
Solutions elusive as number of Mpls. gunshot victims up 90%

Solutions elusive as number of Mpls. gunshot victims up 90%

Amid struggles to develop a new approach to public safety, there is a depressingly familiar problem: how to curb surging violence as the weather warms.
Man turns himself in after pursuit ending in North Minneapolis, 4-hour standoff

Man turns himself in after pursuit ending in North Minneapolis, 4-hour standoff

The man was being sought on unspecified charges in Ramsey County.
Protesters set a dumpster on fire and added other items to it late Thursday night in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood.

Authorities shoot, kill man in Uptown Mpls.

The U.S. Marshals Service said members of its task force were trying to arrest the man on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a gun. The suspect, who was in a parked car, "failed to comply and produced a handgun," officials said.