Coon Rapids Police Shoot Armed Man, Who Relatives Say Was In Mental Health Crisis
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Coon Rapids police say officers shot an armed man Monday afternoon who relatives say was in the midst of a mental health crisis.
A relative of the man called 911 at about 4:30 p.m. to report he was carrying a handgun in his waistband, and they feared for others inside his residence. A few minutes after the call, officers saw the man walking north on Hanson Boulevard. He then headed towards the 12300 block of Drake Street, carrying the gun in his hand.
Soon after, officers began to ask the man to drop his weapon. He didn't, and officers then began shooting him with several rounds from a less-lethal bean bag shotgun, but to no avail. The man began to walk into a wooded area, with officers following, attempting to talk him down.
At about 4:49 p.m., officers shot the man again with bean bag rounds, but he still didn't drop his gun and surrender. Two officers then fired their service pistols at him. He was taken to Hennepin Health hospital, where he is in stable condition Monday evening. No one else was hurt in the confrontation.
Police Chief Brad Wise says his officers were hoping for a peaceful outcome, and shot him as a last resort.
"Our hope is that this man in crisis is going to recover. He was clearly going through something terrible and needs help," Wise said. "All of our officers respect the sanctity of life and were desperate to avoid discharging their weapons at this scene, but circumstances did not allow for that."
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation.
