Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies were fired upon Tuesday morning while trying to serve an arrest warrant in south Minneapolis, setting off an active standoff that drew a heavy police presence to the Eat Street area near West 28th Street and Nicollet Avenue. By Tuesday afternoon, roads around the scene were closed, an apartment building had been evacuated and authorities were telling people to stay away.
No injuries had been reported, and sources said the woman and child who were initially believed to be held inside had been released and were safe. The suspect stayed barricaded in the building, and by 1:30 p.m. was not yet in custody. Police told crews the man had a long rifle and explosives, deepening concern around a scene already secured by deputies and officers from the Minneapolis Police Department.
Sources said the warrant was a Minnesota Department of Corrections warrant for illegal possession of guns and ammunition, although it was not immediately clear what the arrest warrant was for. The FBI and ATF also arrived at the scene, turning the response into a multi-agency operation in a dense part of the city where apartment buildings, traffic and foot traffic normally pack the blocks around Nicollet Avenue.
The safe release of the woman and child removed one immediate fear, but it did not end the danger. With the suspect still inside, the road closures remained in place and crisis negotiations were ongoing as officers tried to bring the standoff to a close without another shot being fired.
