Police: Manhunt Ends With Suspect Found Dead In Jordan Home
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is investigating how a convicted felon had access to a weapon and led authorities on a day-long manhunt that ended with the suspect's death inside a Jordan home early Wednesday morning.
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said, around 1:15 a.m. Jordan police located an individual who they believed to be the suspect, 41-year-old David Michael Winters, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a home in Jordan. Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said Wednesday more than a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the day-long manhunt.
The incident began Tuesday around 9:45 a.m. when St. Louis Park police were called to Indelco Plastics, a business on the 6500 block of Cambridge Drive, on a report of a suspicious person with a gun in a vehicle. Stanek said when officers approached the vehicle Winters was in, he fired at officers and several shots were exchanged. No officers were hurt, and the suspect fled the scene in a green 2008 Honda Civic.
Shortly after the shooting incident, police received a report of a man matching the description of Winters in the parking lot of a Byerly's in St. Louis Park on the 3700 block of Park Center Boulevard with a gun.
Authorities placed the store on lock down and officers were able to secure the area. According to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, after searching for several hours police cleared the scene.
Police were unable to locate Winters at the grocery story, but later found a shot-up, empty car in a stranger's garage in Edina. Stanek said Wednesday there was no reason to believe that he ever entered the store. Authorities said the car found in Edina was used by Winters.
Around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday the Jordan Police Department was notified that Winters may have been headed to the city of Jordan. It is believed that Winters grew up in the area and was heading there after the Byerly's incident.
According to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Jordan police were able to locate Winters at a home in the 500 block of Syndicate Drive in Jordan. Jordan police said officers surrounded the home late Tuesday night and made several attempts to make contact with Winters.
Winters' wife left the home, and was arrested for aiding him. She has not yet been charged.
Around 1:15 a.m., after several hours of negotiations, Jordan Police said they were able to enter the home and locate an individual who they believe is Winters. Police said it appeared that Winters died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities said they recovered a gun at the residence that matched the gun used in officer-involved shooting in St. Louis Park.
Authorities said they are still investigating how Winters got from Edina to the residence in Jordan.
Winters had an extensive criminal record, that included at least three felony convictions. He was also a self-admitted member of a motorcycle gang. Stanek said Wednesday Winters was prohibited from having a firearm.
In the words of his stepdaughter, Winters had a checkered past with police.
Court records show Winters had been convicted in Minnesota on several charges including counterfeit checks, disorderly conduct, receiving stolen property and manufacturing meth.
His stepdaughter told WCCO he was a real human being, not just an ex-con.
She said Winters was working to get his life back on track and she's not sure what led to the shootout with police.
She didn't know if her stepdad had been using drugs or if he was a having a mental break.
"I'm very sad right now. I just want him to make the decision, like are going to go out in a blaze of glory or will you humble yourself and just know that this doesn't have to be the way it ends," Angela Meyer, Winters stepdaughter, said. "Turn yourself in, Dave. Please. Please, for your kids' sake."
WCCO talked to a woman last night who said she had known Winters for 15 years.
She said she was his best friend and was even the maid of honor at his wedding.
She said Winters told her about the shooting over the phone Tuesday.
"That he did not shoot at the police. That he's scared. And that he has a lot of thinking to do," Winters friend said. "He knows he's in an awful lot of trouble. He doesn't see this coming to any end without him having to do 30 years in prison."
That woman also said that during the first incident in St. Louis Park, Winters told her something hit him in the foot, but he thought the police might have been shooting salt pellets, bean bags or rubber bullets because he said it didn't penetrate.
Police arrested Winters's wife, Erica Lynn Winters of Jordan, Tuesday in Scott County for obstructing the legal process. Her roll in the shootout and manhunt is unclear.
Formal identification of the body will be made by the medical examiners.
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is heading this investigation and is continuing to look into this incident.
