Doug Huffman
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http://www.startribune.com/local/12552126.html
Police blamed bad information for sending a SWAT team into a north Minneapolis house early Sunday morning in a raid that ended with shots exchanged between police -- who were struck by bullets -- and the resident, who said he was just defending his family.
The homeowner, who does not speak English, told his brother that he thought the police were the "bad guys" after they broke through the back door of the house, where he lives with his wife and six children. He fired and hit two police officers, who were not injured thanks to their bullet-proof vests and helmets, police said in a statement.
The Police Department's SWAT team was trying to search the two-story house at 12:46 a.m. in the 1300 block of Logan Avenue N., as part of an investigation by the Violent Offender Task Force. But police said that they learned later that bad information led them to that house.
"It was found out that this particular address was not part of that long-term investigation," police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia III told KSTP-TV on Sunday. He told KMSP-TV that it was a "bad situation."
"It could have been much worse," Garcia added.
Dao Khang, who is the brother of the homeowner, Vang Khang, said his brother feared for his safety. "He took out his shotgun and he said if they are bad guys I'll shoot, I'll scare them away," Khang said. "He fired first, he told me it was two shots."
Vang Khang was taken into custody but later released. Dao Khang said his brother has been in contact with a lawyer and is considering legal action.
Khang and his children, who range in age from 3 to 15, were shaken, Dao Khang said. "All these gunshots in the house. They don't know what's going on. Flying bullets in the house and they just cried," he said.
Garcia told KMSP that police grabbed the family's children and shielded them during the incident.
Garcia did not return repeated calls from the Star Tribune on Sunday. Questions about the shooting on Sunday night were referred to Lt. Amelia Huffman, head of the homicide unit, who also did not return calls.
No one answered the front door at the house on Sunday night.
In a statement released shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday, police said that officers found no one on the first floor of the house. When they made their way up to the second floor, they were confronted by an adult male. The officers identified themselves as police, and the man fired several rounds at them. Several officers returned fire, but no one in the house was injured.
Investigations by the Minneapolis Police Department's homicide and internal affairs units are underway. According to standard department procedures, the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave during the initial investigation.
The names of the officers were not immediately available.
Patrick Kennedy • 612-673-7926
http://www.startribune.com/local/12552126.html
Police blamed bad information for sending a SWAT team into a north Minneapolis house early Sunday morning in a raid that ended with shots exchanged between police -- who were struck by bullets -- and the resident, who said he was just defending his family.
The homeowner, who does not speak English, told his brother that he thought the police were the "bad guys" after they broke through the back door of the house, where he lives with his wife and six children. He fired and hit two police officers, who were not injured thanks to their bullet-proof vests and helmets, police said in a statement.
The Police Department's SWAT team was trying to search the two-story house at 12:46 a.m. in the 1300 block of Logan Avenue N., as part of an investigation by the Violent Offender Task Force. But police said that they learned later that bad information led them to that house.
"It was found out that this particular address was not part of that long-term investigation," police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia III told KSTP-TV on Sunday. He told KMSP-TV that it was a "bad situation."
"It could have been much worse," Garcia added.
Dao Khang, who is the brother of the homeowner, Vang Khang, said his brother feared for his safety. "He took out his shotgun and he said if they are bad guys I'll shoot, I'll scare them away," Khang said. "He fired first, he told me it was two shots."
Vang Khang was taken into custody but later released. Dao Khang said his brother has been in contact with a lawyer and is considering legal action.
Khang and his children, who range in age from 3 to 15, were shaken, Dao Khang said. "All these gunshots in the house. They don't know what's going on. Flying bullets in the house and they just cried," he said.
Garcia told KMSP that police grabbed the family's children and shielded them during the incident.
Garcia did not return repeated calls from the Star Tribune on Sunday. Questions about the shooting on Sunday night were referred to Lt. Amelia Huffman, head of the homicide unit, who also did not return calls.
No one answered the front door at the house on Sunday night.
In a statement released shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday, police said that officers found no one on the first floor of the house. When they made their way up to the second floor, they were confronted by an adult male. The officers identified themselves as police, and the man fired several rounds at them. Several officers returned fire, but no one in the house was injured.
Investigations by the Minneapolis Police Department's homicide and internal affairs units are underway. According to standard department procedures, the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave during the initial investigation.
The names of the officers were not immediately available.
Patrick Kennedy • 612-673-7926