Trooper, officer who fired weapons in Albert Lea shooting identified
[KSTP]
Both the police officer shot and the state trooper who discharged his firearm during a shooting in Albert Lea last week have been identified.
According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Trooper Steven Quern, a 15-year veteran of the Minnesota State Patrol discharged his weapon during the shooting on Nov. 29. Officer Kody Needham, a four-year law enforcement veteran, is on medical leave after being injured.
Court records show that 21-year-old Devin Matthew Weiland is charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder and three counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
Officers responded to the 800 block of Fourth Avenue South at 2:18 a.m. Nov. 29 on reports of gunshots or fireworks. The responding officer’s squad came under fire and the officer was shot. A criminal complaint states the officer was hit in the chest. Fortunately, he was wearing a protective vest and was able to drive to safety.
Other officers then surrounded Shady Oaks apartments and were able to determine which unit the shots were coming from. Officers then attempted to make contact with the person inside the apartment for the next eight hours while shots were periodically fired.
The complaint states one victim left the building because he was concerned about his car and then was shot in the bicep. He was taken to a hospital and was believed to have a fractured and displaced humerus and a tearing injury to the side of his chest.
A second victim left for work at about 5:15 a.m. from across the street and was shot in the leg as he was driving away, which required emergency surgery.
Officers worked to evacuate the building as Weiland continued shooting. Three separate SWAT teams responded to the scene and engaged in a standoff, during which time tear gas was deployed. The complaint states Weiland ultimately injured his head and was bleeding, so he surrendered to law enforcement.
He was then taken to a hospital before being taken to Freeborn County Detention Center.
Officers seized three rifles and a shotgun from the apartment and estimated that about 90 rounds were fired.
Weiland told investigators he was concerned about a confrontation that night and admitted to calling police about hearing gunshots, the complaint states. He also allegedly admitted to shooting at the officer and other victims and said he thought the car he fired at was a police car.
The complaint also states Weiland claimed he thought police were going to take his guns and that he was "sorry and wanted the agents to convey that to the multiple shooting victims."