Cops: Domestic Assault Suspect Wielding Knife Shot, Killed

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – An officer-involved shooting took the life of a knife wielding domestic violence suspect Saturday morning in Minneapolis, according to authorities.

Police said four officers were called to the 3000 block of 19th Ave. S. at 2:15 a.m., following the screams of a woman to an apartment where they were confronted by the suspect.

"Two of them went to the front door of the apartment, which is on the second floor of this building," said Sgt. William Palmer. "They were refused entry to the dwelling, but they could hear a female screaming inside the residence, and so the officers forced entry into the dwelling."

Palmer said the two officers were then confronted by the suspect, who held a large knife. The man then advanced on the pair, and the officers opened fire in self defense.

The officers, who have 19 years of experience between them, are on administrative leave. They will be identified on Monday.

The identification of the dead man will be released by the coroner's office. The man's family, however, said he was Del Shawn Crawford, Sr. And they have a different take on the shooting.

His family said he did not deserve to be shot five times and killed. They said the apartment was having a family night and that things took a sour turn after Crawford began drinking.

Crawford's girlfriend, Brandy Lewis, said she and Crawford were arguing and that he did pick up a knife. But Lewis also said she never felt threatened and that she didn't scream for help.

She said she had Crawford under control within minutes.

"He put the knife right on the corner of my dining room table," Lewis said. "And it sat there and he didn't touch it no more."

According to her, it was around this time – after Crawford had put down the knife – that police arrived and killed Crawford.

The family said a neighbor called 911.

The shooting is under investigation.