GLENDORADO, Minn. — A Benton County man is charged with multiple counts of attempted murder after prosecutors say he shot and wounded five police officers, telling his wife it was "his day to die."
Court documents list a dozen felony charges against 64-year-old Karl Thomas Holmberg of Glendorado Township. Six of those counts are for attempted murder for allegedly shooting those five officers, and firing at a sixth member of the Sherburne County Drug Task force who was not hit.
The criminal complaint against Holmberg documents what unfolded at the rural Benton County address beginning around 7:10 a.m. on Oct. 12, when drug task force members and accompanying deputies were attempting to execute a "knock and announce" narcotics search warrant. BCA investigators said body cam video showed the team approaching the front door of Holmberg's single-story home and loudly announcing "police, search warrant!" multiple times. The door to the home was seen opening, officers entered the living room and a male voice could be heard responding. Seconds later, the complaint alleges, gunshots are heard, and then more shots are fired as the officers scramble to retreat.
Prosecutors said one task force member was shot in the arm, a second was shot in the chest and hip, a third was shot in the hand, and two more were shot but not wounded. As of Friday morning, two officers remain hospitalized at North Memorial Medical Center.
According to the Department of Corrections, Holmberg has never been in prison. But he has at least three drug-related convictions stemming from 1986 to 2006.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said the officers who were shot were members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force and were working undercover. Three of the victims were Sherburne County sheriff's deputies, while the other two officers are investigators with the Princeton and Elk River Police Departments.
Investigators interviewed Holmberg's wife, who reportedly told them she awoke to the defendant telling her "they" were here. She said she looked at a video monitor and saw police outside the home, and her husband allegedly told her it was "his day to die," the complaint said. She described hearing a door being kicked in, and her husband allegedly firing "blindly" through the closed bedroom door with a military-style rifle.
According to the criminal complaint, Holmberg asked his wife to join the fight, and when she refused, he allegedly called her a coward.
Holmberg was also shot while exchanging fire with the officers and was eventually taken into custody after a standoff that lasted more than four hours. He was flown to North Memorial Medical Center, where the defendant is being treated for his wounds.
BCA agents conducted a bedside interview with Holmberg at the hospital. He reportedly told them he was in his bedroom, heard the task force members announce themselves and did not feel they had a right to be there. Holmberg alleged that the officers attempted to enter his bedroom and shots were exchanged.
During a search of Holmberg's home following the incident, BCA crime scene specialists recovered multiple handguns, a shotgun, the rifle allegedly used to shoot the officers and a weapon dropped by one of the officers. Shell casings were recovered from both the bedroom and the living room area.
Along with the six counts of first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer, Karl Homberg is also charged with six counts of first-degree assault using deadly force against a peace officer.
The Minnesota BCA continues to investigate the incident.
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