MINNEAPOLIS — An hourslong standoff between law enforcement and a man who allegedly fired shots inside a south Minneapolis apartment building ended early Thursday when he died after being shot by police, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
The man, believed to be in his 20s, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he later died, said officer Garrett Parten, a police spokesperson. The man's identity has yet to be released.
"This is not the outcome we had hoped for or desired," Parten said while briefing the news media.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation, said Bonney Bowman, the agency's spokesperson for use-of-force investigations.
Parten said in response to a reporter's question during the briefing that the man was shot by a Minneapolis police officer. A later MPD news release made no mention of who shot the man. Another police spokesperson, Howie Padilla, said Thursday afternoon that what Parten "said at the briefing stands."
Events began about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, when police were called about shots fired from inside an apartment building on S. 21st Avenue, near the intersection of Cedar and Franklin avenues in the Seward neighborhood.
A woman who lived in an apartment next to where the man was holed up told police bullets came through the wall of her third-floor unit. Officers arrived and heard more shots being fired and debris exploding from the wall, Parten said.
Police rescued the woman and two children who were with her. Others in the building also were moved to safety and some in nearby homes were evacuated, Parten said.
Several nearby streets were shut down during the six-hour ordeal as law enforcement attempted to talk the man down. Efforts included using a loudspeaker to tell the man to "exit with his hands up," Parten said.
Police also told the man to check his phone for calls and voicemails from his parents. Law enforcement also brought the man's parents to the scene in hopes of getting him to surrender.
The man's identity has yet to be released by law enforcement.
About 4:30 a.m. Thursday, as the situation continued to escalate, a decision was made to use force given the totality of circumstances before the members of law enforcement, a statement from Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said.
"We want to stress to the public that is an active investigation," part of the association's statement said. "Over the last several years, misinformation, rumors, and innuendos have led to pain and distrust in our community and justice system. We implore everyone to not hastily arrive to a conclusion until all information is known."
In a series of tweets, Mayor Jacob Frey said, "All were working together to try and reach a peaceful resolution amid dangerous circumstances while keeping nearby residents safe. The City will continue working to share as much information as possible in these early hours and has turned the investigation over to the BCA."
Frey added: "I also want to express my gratitude to the City staff, including MPD officers and crisis negotiators, who worked diligently throughout the night alongside the individual's family members. This is not the outcome anyone wanted. Any loss of life is tragic, and my deepest condolences go out to the family of the individual involved."
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