BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Bloomington Police say an armed man "in crisis" was taken to a hospital after a standoff with officers at a circus near Mall of America on Friday evening.
According to a news release, a woman called police around 4 p.m. to report a man in a truck with a large gun in a parking lot where the circus was taking place. The caller said the man then went inside a circus tent with the gun.
Officers found the man holding a shotgun in the parking lot, but said he refused to put down the weapon. Police evacuated the circus tent and attempted to negotiate with the man to put the gun down. Officers then made contact with a family member over the phone, who told them the man was "in crisis" and had access to firearms.
About two hours into the standoff, negotiators were able to convince the man to put the gun on the ground as he "retreated to his vehicle." Police said they were able to stop the man from driving away; however, he refused to leave his car for nearly a half hour. When he eventually stepped out of the car, officers were able to detain the man and bring him to an ambulance to be taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.
"He was not arrested and is not currently in custody," police said in the news release.
The Mall of America was not placed on lockdown during the incident, but guests inside the mall were asked not to leave through the building's north doors.
KARE 11 spoke with a man from Burnsville named Brad who was inside the tent when it was evacuated. "They came out with an announcement saying they were having technical difficulties outside the tent... then probably about seven to 10 minutes later the same guy came out and asked everybody to stand up and walk outside in an orderly fashion," he said.
"They were very specific saying 'Do not go to your car, but go to the mall,'" Brad added.
On Monday, the Bloomington Police Department said the suspect continues to receive medical attention while authorities decide whether to bring charges.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available.
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