Minneapolis SWAT Officer Shoots, Kills Man During Search Warrant
Interim MPD Chief Ameila Huffman in a still image from KSTP-TV livestream
A man was fatally shot by a Minneapolis SWAT officer who was part of a team executing a search warrant early Wednesday morning at an apartment on the 1100 block of Marquette Ave. in downtown Minneapolis.
Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman confirmed in a media conference shortly after noon that the man was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
Huffman said SWAT officers were serving a search warrant around 6:50 a.m. related to an ongoing Saint Paul homicide investigation. The officers “loudly and repeatedly” announced their presence after gaining access to the apartment unit with the use of a key fob, Huffman said.
UPDATE: Bodycam Video Released in Fatal Minneapolis Police Shooting of Amir Locke
About 9 seconds after they entered, Huffman said officers were met by the man, who was holding a handgun, “pointed in the direction of officers,” a media release issued late Wednesday afternoon from MPD said. One officer fired gunshots, wounding the man, and no officers were injured in the incident.
“Officers gained entry to the target apartment on the seventh floor, loudly and repeatedly announced their presence, crossed the threshold of the apartment, and advanced with continued loud announcements of their presence,” the MPD media release read.
UPDATE: Arrest Made in Saint Paul Murder; Suspect in Warrant That Led to Amir Locke Killing
The officer who fired his weapon was identified in city documents as Mark Hanneman, a Minneapolis officer since 2015 and previously an officer in Hutchinson, Minn. A city personnel file lists three complaints have been filed in Hanneman’s tenure at MPD, with all three cleared and no discipline issued.
Huffman said a loaded handgun was found at the scene inside the apartment unit. Photos of the firearm were shared in the media release and are included below.
DOWNLOAD PDF: Redacted Incident Report from MPD - Feb. 2, 2022
The man was carried downstairs to paramedics, and was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. A large police presence remained throughout the day on the 1110 block of Marquette as investigation continued.
It’s not yet confirmed to which homicide the search warrant was related.
Huffman was joined by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at the media conference, but they did not take any questions, referring them to the Minnesota BCA, which is heading the investigation.
Authorities have also not confirmed the details of the warrant nor how they believe the man was connected to the previous homicide. He has not yet been officially identified, but family members shared on social media that the man killed was Amir Locke, 22.
The Star Tribune newspaper, citing multiple sources, reported that Locke was not the target of the investigation and family members have said that Locke was not named on the warrant, though that information has not yet been confirmed.
Officers were wearing body-worn cameras, which were recording audio and video, MPD said. Huffman said she’d reviewed the footage and the department is fully cooperating with the BCA’s investigation.
There’s been no official announcement as of Thursday evening on when more evidence—including body-worn camera video—may be released to the public.
Frey released a written statement on Thursday, saying he’’s “committed to ensuring the family has had an opportunity to review the body camera footage prior to the public release of it.”
