Woodbury Target standoff: Armed man shot by police in parking lot

WOODBURY, Minn. (FOX 9) - A man armed with a gun was shot by law enforcement officers during a standoff outside a Target store in Woodbury on Monday morning, officers reported.

Woodbury police said they responded to the parking lot for a report of a vehicle with stolen license plates.

While they were investigating the vehicle, officers said the driver, a man in his 50s, returned to the car and began to fight with police when they attempted to arrest him.

Woodbury police said, ultimately, officers saw the man had a handgun and pulled it back. A SWAT team was called in as the man climbed into the vehicle and refused to exit.

"Officers called for the SWAT team, attempted to negotiate, and deployed less than lethal options with the suspect for an extended period of time, but he would not comply," a release from police explains. "He later exited the vehicle, brandished a handgun, and pointed it in the direction of responding officers, who then fired."

A photo from Woodbury police, that appears to have been captured by a drone, shows a man crouching between two vehicles pointing a handgun. During a news conference, police also shared a photo of a revolver handgun recovered at the scene.

The man was shot during the incident and transported to Regions Hospital for treatment. His condition is not yet known.

During the incident, officials asked members of the public to avoid the Target store at Valley Creek Plaza due to an active situation. A shelter-in-place order was issued for people in the area while the situation was ongoing, starting during the 9 a.m. hour. Shots were fired around 10:30 a.m., police said.

The Minnesota BCA will investigate the police shooting, as per protocol. A Woodbury police officer and Washington County deputy have also been placed on standard leave.