At approximately 12:18 a.m., Saint Paul police officers were called to a multi-unit building on the 400 block of Thomas Avenue West for an in-progress sexual assault. The 911 caller stated that a man was physically and sexually assaulting a woman while armed with a handgun. The caller stated that he could hear the woman screaming.
According to preliminary information, as our officers arrived, they witnessed a man trying to exit the building through a back window. The officers outside the building observed the man going back inside through the same window. Two officers inside the building were at the apartment door. They were able to get the woman to safely exit the apartment. The officers then began to call the suspect out of the apartment, into the hallway. He charged out of the apartment at them, and shots were fired by one officer, which struck the man in the arm. Officers called for Saint Paul Fire medics to respond and began to provide first aid to the man.
The injured man was transported to Regions Hospital by medics with non-life-threatening injuries. The woman involved was not injured in the shooting.
Due to the nature of this incident, we requested the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to handle the investigation. The officers involved in this incident were wearing body cameras that were activated. The BCA will review the video and other evidence as part of its investigation.
The officers will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting. No further information about this case is currently available. Future questions about the investigation should be directed to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
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