A late-night standoff in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, escalated into gunfire when police confronted a man allegedly armed with a chainsaw. Officers were called to a home near 63rd Avenue North around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12th, after reports of someone inside the residence with knives.
When crisis negotiators attempted to resolve the situation, the man reportedly exited the home with a chainsaw.
Officers initially tried non-lethal methods, deploying pepper balls and 40 mm rounds in an effort to subdue the suspect.
But when the man refused to stand down, officers opened fire, striking him. He was transported to a hospital and remains in stable condition.
Neighbor Tyler Ferguson said he witnessed the incident. “He came after the police with a chainsaw,” Ferguson told local media. “They shot him down.” He described hearing multiple rounds fired during the chaos.
The officers involved have been placed on critical incident leave, a standard procedure, while the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates.
Several nearby law enforcement agencies were called in to assist during the standoff.
This violent episode is just the latest in a string of law enforcement-involved shootings in the Twin Cities.
Just days earlier, an incident in Albert Lea ended in tragedy when authorities discovered a deceased woman on a property following an officer-involved shooting.
In late May, police in both Hastings and Coon Rapids responded to domestic violence calls that turned deadly.
Amid rising violence, law enforcement officers in Minnesota continue to operate under added pressure following a data breach earlier this year.
The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), under Governor Tim Walz’s appointees, released the names of every officer in the state, including 257 working undercover, in response to a public records request.
The leak, now the subject of a lawsuit by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, has endangered ongoing investigations and the safety of countless officers and their families.
“This is a massive failure by the POST Board,” said State Senator Warren Limmer. “Our peace officers already face significant risks, and those working undercover bear even greater dangers.”
As violent confrontations continue to escalate and officers are increasingly asked to put themselves in harm’s way, many are calling for better support and resources.
One organization, InvestUSA, is stepping up to provide critical protection.
Through ballistic vests and other lifesaving gear, InvestUSA is helping officers across the country return home safely after high-risk encounters like the one in Brooklyn Center.
Now more than ever, real support—not just slogans—is needed to protect the men and women who protect us.
Comments
2025-06-20T19:24-0400 | Comment by: Barbro
Looks like Minnesotans have gone the way of Tampon Tim,sanity questioned