Charges Filed After 5 Officers Shot in Benton County
Karl Thomas Holmberg, 64, faces multiple charges after he allegedly opened fire on task force officers who were attempting to serve a search warrant at his home near Princeton early Thursday morning.
According to documents filed in court, on October 12,2023, at approximately 7:10 a.m., officers assigned to the Sherburne County Drug Task Force, accompanied by deputies from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, were attempting to serve a knock-and-announce narcotics search warrant at 225 190th Ave. NE. in rural Princeton.
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After a review of body-warn camera and other available video, the following was learned:
Law enforcement is seen in video approaching the front door of a single-story residence. Law enforcement is heard to be loudly announcing, “police, search warrant,” multiple times while knocking on the door. The door is then opened, and “police, search warrant” is again announced. Upon entry into the living room area of the home, a male voice can be heard responding to officers. Within seconds, gunshots are heard. Numerous gunshots are fired as officers retreat from the residence.
Officer A was shot in the right arm and sustained “substantial” injuries as a result of being struck by gunfire. Officer A was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center and is currently hospitalized.
Officer B was shot in the chest and hip. Officer B was also airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center where the officer is currently hospitalized due to ”substantial injuries.”
Officer C was shot in the hand and was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center with “substantial injuries” and was released on the evening of October 12, 2023.
Officer D and Officer E were also shot and transported by ambulance to St. Cloud hospital where they were later discharged.
Officer F was also inside of the house at the time of the exchange of gunfire but was not struck.
After several hours of negotiation, Holmberg was eventually taken into custody.
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Karl’s wife, Dorine Holmberg, was present at the time of the shooting incident and reported that she awoke to her husband telling her that “they” were here. Dorine said that she checked a monitor in the bedroom, which showed an exterior camera view of the property. Dorine observed police outside and Karl indicated that it was “his day to die.”
Karl had multiple guns laid out on the bed, Dorine said, and she heard what she described as the door being kicked in. At that time, Karl was repeating something to the effect of “don’t do it, don’t do it.” Dorine said that Karl began shooting “blindly” through the closed bedroom door with a “military-style” rifle.
Karl allegedly asked Dorine to join the fight and, when she refused, he called her a “coward.”
BCA Agents conducted an interview with Karl Holmberg on October 12, 2023 at North Memorial Medical Center. The defendant was read his Miranda Warning prior to questioning and agreed to speak with BCA Agents.
Holmberg stated that he was in his bedroom and knew that the police were at his door. The defendant heard the police announce themselves and declare it was a search warrant. The defendant advised that he did not think they had a right to be there and told them to leave. According to the defendant, several officers came to his bedroom door and attempted to enter and shots were exchanged between him and the officers. The defendant advised that he shot using a .223 rifle. According to the defendant, his injuries include being shot in the foot.
During crime scene processing of the residence, numerous guns were located in the bedroom of the home to include handguns, a shotgun, a rifle (.223), and one of the officer’s guns. There were .223 shell casings within the bedroom of the home. There were also shell casings located in the living room area of the home.
The shell casings from the bedroom and the living room area appeared to be two distinct groupings.
According to Minnesota court records, Holmberg has two prior felony drug convictions: one in 1986 and the other in 2005.
Holmberg faces 12 total counts including six counts of first-degree attempted murder of a police officer and six counts of first-degree assault against a police officer.
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