Documents released after Minneapolis police shot and killed a man holding a handgun while executing a search warrant Wednesday morning at a downtown apartment building show MPD officer Mark Hanneman was the only officer who fired shots.
According to police documents, the man who was shot and killed was shot twice in the chest and once in the wrist. Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman said the department's SWAT Team was assisting the St. Paul Police Department's homicide unit at the time and that the victim was holding a loaded handgun.
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On Wednesday night, community activists held a news conference outside the apartment building at 11th Street and Marquette Avenue.
"When I heard that the young man was armed in this situation, my first question was, 'Does that justify the use of deadly force?'" said Civil Rights Attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. "I too am a licensed gun owner and if someone showed up at my house at 6-something in the morning and I did not expect them to be there, I can't guarantee that my hand would not be on my gun. But, does that mean I'm a threat to police or police officers? No."
Huffman said that officers "loudly and repeatedly" announced their entry into an apartment.
“Approximately nine seconds into the entry, officers encountered a male who was armed with a handgun pointed in the direction of officers. At one point, shots were fired, and the adult male suspect was struck. Officers immediately provided emergency aid and carried the suspect down to the lobby to meet paramedics,” police said in an afternoon release.
Michelle Gross with Communities Against Police Brutality said the man who was shot had a gun legally, however that has yet to be confirmed.
"From what we understand, the gentleman was startled when people came blasting through his door, and he did what legal gunowners do," Gross said. "He attempted to defend himself and this is how he ended up dead."
Officers were wearing body worn cameras. It's unclear whether or not that footage will be released.