MINNEAPOLIS — A suspect is jailed awaiting charges after Minneapolis Park Police say he exchanged gunfire with an officer late Tuesday night.
Minneapolis Park Police Chief Jason Ohotto detailed the incident while meeting with reporters Wednesday. He says his officer was investigating a suspicious vehicle illegally parked on the Lake Harriet boat launch just before midnight when he was approached by the 24-year-old suspect, who was away from the vehicle. The suspect was uncooperative and reportedly became combative while being questioned and attempted to access the vehicle.
Ohotto says at that point the officer attempted to detain the suspect, who pulled his gun and fired multiple shots towards the officer. The officer accessed his weapon and shot back. The chief says neither man was hit, despite the fact they were less than 30 feet apart.
"It's an absolute miracle that no one was killed in this incident," he told reporters.
The suspect fled following the exchange of gunfire, and the officer called for backup from both Park Police and the Minneapolis Police Department. Officers located the suspect a short distance away from the scene where he was taken into custody.
Ohotto says while no one was injured, the officer's squad car was damaged by gunfire.
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office says their underwater recovery team was called in to assist with the investigation.
A spokesperson for the sheriff's office says divers were in Lake Harriet looking for the suspect's gun.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the gun still hadn't been found.
Minneapolis Police will handle the investigation, as it is common practice to call in an outside agency when an officer discharges his or her weapon. The park police officer was wearing a body camera that was active during the incident.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted.
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