1 Dead In Officer-Involved Shooting In Burnsville
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Burnsville police officer shot and killed a suspect early Thursday morning.
It happened in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant. Officers were called to the McDonald's at Highway 13 and Washburn Avenue around 6:15 a.m. When they arrived, they encountered a person with a weapon.
The parking lot was blocked off for several hours as the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension took over the investigation. The BCA has not released the name of the person who was shot or the names of the officers involved.
The Burnsville police chief says this is the first time his department has had an officer-involved shooting where the suspect was killed in 35 years. But Thursday, just before sunrise, that all changed.
"Officers discovered a single suspect brandishing a weapon. The incident resulted in an officer-involved shooting," Burnsville Police Chief Eric Gieseke said.
The chief says five police officers arrived at the scene and were all present at the time of the shooting.
"As most of you know, Burnsville police officers are equipped with body cameras. The officers involved in this incident were wearing them at the time," he said.
A recording of police audio from the website Police Clips indicates a McDonald's customer and an employee called police after they saw a man jumping up and down inside a car, and possibly waving a knife.
Police did not confirm that information with us, but we do know that shortly after police arrived, shots were fired.
"Once we know the integrity of the investigation will not be compromised and in consultation with the county attorney, we will get you as much additional information as we can," Chief Gieseke said.
The Chief says none of the officers were injured. A spokesperson for the BCA said interviews with those five Burnsville officers are underway and once that process is complete, their names will be made public.
As for the suspect who was shot and killed, the BCA is waiting for the medical examiner's office to positively identify that person before releasing a name.