BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Hennepin County prosecutors have charged a man with two counts of felony assault – use of deadly force against a peace officer – and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition or a firearm after an incident outside a Brooklyn Park Walmart Monday.
Police say the gunman accused of firing on officers before being shot is 32-year-old James Klein. He is recovering in a hospital with bullet wounds in the leg and hand. No customers or police officer were injured.
Brooklyn Park Police officials say squads were responding to a suspicious activity call by an employee at the Walmart on Lakeland Ave. N when the encounter occurred.
According to the criminal complaint, when officers arrived they saw Klein and told him to halt. Klein walked away, ignoring the officer's orders and an officer shot Klein with a stun gun. It had "minimal effect."
Klein started running and then allegedly turned and fired at the officer. Investigators say gunfire was returned, and then another officer ran after Klein and shot at him. Prosecutors say Klein turned toward the officer with a gun drawn and Klein was shot and wounded.
The B.C.A. says two people who were with Klein were briefly detained and released.
Klein left prison in August and was under supervised release after being sentenced in 2013 in Scott County for drug, weapons and counterfeiting currency offenses, the Star Tribune reported. Records show he also has two earlier drug possession convictions in Minnesota and one for fleeing police.
It was not immediately clear if he has hired an attorney to speak on his behalf.
