Target, Autozone respond to violent Minneapolis protests amid looting and arson

written by Paul Goldberg May 29, 2020

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With looting and arson videos of protesters in Minneapolis store going viral on social media, Target and Autozone, caught in the crossfire have issued statements.

Fox News reports Business managers are picking up the pieces after rioters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, took to the streets overnight – looting a Target and setting an AutoZone on fire – while protesting the police-involved death of George Floyd.

Rioters set fire to a number of small businesses and chain stores, including a nearby AutoZone, where photographs show rioters surrounding the building as flames grow from within.

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“These are a series of disturbing and tragic events,” AutoZone spokesperson David McKinney told FOX Business on Thursday. “Fortunately, no customers or AutoZoners were harmed as a result of the fires in Minneapolis.”

Pockets of looting were reported Thursday at stores where windows and doors were smashed. KSTP-TV reported some fires at businesses continued to burn with no firefighters on scene. A liquor store employee displayed a gun as he stood among the debris of broken bottles and beer cans inside the business.

Looters also descended upon a local Target store, smashing windows, dismantling equipment and taking what they could from inside. They were seen carrying merchandise from the store with no interference by police.

Target is headquartered in Minneapolis, but was uninvolved in the death of 46-year-old Floyd.

Danielle Schumann, a spokesperson for Target, told FOX Business the company is “heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing our community.”

“We decided to close our Lake Street store earlier today and worked to ensure all of our team members were accounted for and safe,” Schumann said in an emailed statement. “Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal. Until further notice, our store will remain closed.”