BCA investigating fatal shooting involving Minneapolis police officers

A man is dead after a shooting involving Minneapolis police that resulted from a response to a 911-hang-up call around 5:30 Tuesday night, the department said in a press release early Wednesday morning.

Minneapolis police say 2^nd Precinct officers went to a home on the 3400 block of Fifth Street Northeast after a 911 caller hung up on dispatch.

Officers attempted to communicate through a window with people inside the home, and were directed to the back of the home.

Police say officers went through an unlocked back door, announced their presence, then heard “cries of distress.”

Then, police say a man confronted one of the officers with a gun, prompting an exchange of gunfire. It is unclear at this time who fired first, or how long the gunfire lasted.

Officers were said to have gone outside after the gunfire exchange, when one of the people inside the house told officers the man with the gun shot himself.

A woman, girl and boy left the house as officers secured the area.

Police say they re-entered the home and found a man in his 50s with an apparent fatal gunshot wound on the floor.

The officers took a gun from the scene.

The officer involved in the exchange of gunfire was taken to the hospital for unspecified injuries and has since been released, according to police.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is now involved after being requested by the Minneapolis Police Department. The BCA is independently investigating the shooting.

Police asked the public for patience during the investigation in the following statement:

“It is understood that people will want answers quickly to many questions. The MPD shares this desire while seeking answers that are provided after thorough and full investigations. We are asking for patience to allow for that full investigation to take place.”

At this time, police say they won’t release any more information to the public, and only added that “both officers” wore active body-worn cameras Tuesday night. Minneapolis Commissioner of Community Safety Cedric Alexander said Wednesday that the body camera video will be released to the public at a later time.

“The work and heroism that (the officers) displayed is impeccable,” Alexander added.

Check back for updates as the BCA investigation develops.

Although Minneapolis police did not speculate on the man’s nature of death and are awaiting the findings of the BCA investigation, mention of suicidal action can be distressing. Mental health and suicide prevention resources are embedded below for anyone believed to be at risk of self harm ideology.

Here is a list of suicide prevention and mental health resources:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988
• Crisis Text Line – Text MN to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
• Minnesota Department of Human Service’s adult mental health resources
  • DHS map and list of statewide adult mental health crisis response phone numbers
  • DHS map and list of statewide children’s mental health crisis response phone numbers
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Minnesota
• Veterans Crisis Line at 988, Option 1 or by texting 838255
• Minnesota Farm and Rural Mental Health Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FarmStress” to 898211

If you believe someone is at risk of suicide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests you:

• Ask questions about whether the individual is having suicidal thoughts.
• Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• Seek help from a medical or mental health professional. If it is an emergency situation, take the person to a hospital.
• Remove any objects from a person’s home that could be potentially used in a suicide.
• Do not leave the person alone, if possible, until help is available.