Minnesota State Fair gang lawsuit: Officials set to provide update

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota officials will be discussing the lawsuit to prevent gang violence at the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday afternoon. 

Minnesota State Fair gang lawsuit update

What we know:

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Minnesota State Fair Police Chief Ron Knafla will be holding a press conference to discuss "agreements and injunctions" they say they won Thursday to prevent gang violence at the fair. 

The press conference will be taking place at the Minnesota State Capitol at 4:30 p.m. CT. It can be watched live in the player above. 

Fair agreement 

The backstory:

In joint stipulations filed with the court on Wednesday on Thursday, seven men, who are identified by prosecutors as members of the Muddy and the Ville gangs, have agreed not to attend the 2026 Minnesota State Fair.

As part of the agreement, the men say they will also avoid a "safety area" around the fairgrounds from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7 – the dates of the fair – and not aid any gang activity in that area during those dates.

Dig deeper:

Earlier this month, Ramsey County filed a lawsuit seeking to block two gangs from attending the fair.

Attorneys were asking the court to prevent the Muddy and The Ville gangs from going into the "safety zone" that covers the fairgrounds and some surrounding neighborhoods.

Officials argued that recent shootings in St. Paul, like the Metro State graduation shooting, and near the fair have involved the gangs.

Officials said, if granted, the lawsuit would give law enforcement the ability to arrest any gang member who violated the order and attended the fair without the need for probable cause of another crime being committed.