St. Paul police officer wounded in leg, man critically injured in shootout near UST campus
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A police officer and a man were both wounded Thursday afternoon in a shootout on a St. Paul street.
St. Paul police say the officer, who was shot in the lower leg, was treated and released from the hospital Thursday evening. The man remains hospitalized with critical injuries.
The shootout happened just after 2 p.m. near Cretin and Marshall avenues.
In a press conference Thursday night, police said a woman called 911 to report she was being following by a man she has an order of protection against.
"She went on to say that the man was intentionally driving his vehicle into hers, damaging it. She also stated he was in possession of a handgun and also had broken out a window on her vehicle," said SPPD Sgt. Mike Ernster.
Officers responded to a gas station just a few blocks away from the University of St. Thomas' campus.
"When our officer arrived in the area of this call, he confronted the man," Ernster said. "That man fired towards our offices with that handgun, striking him in the lower leg. Our officer returned fire, striking the man and critically injuring him."
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The injured officer was raced to Regions Hospital by another officer at the scene. When the officer was released from Regions hours later, members of law enforcement were on hand to salute him.
"Our officers get called to these situations. When they're asked for help, they're going to respond," Ernster said.
The injured officer was wearing a functioning body camera at the time of the shooting. That is just some of the evidence that will be reviewed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is leading the investigation.