Standoff Suspect Shoots Drone
South Minneapolis Standoff Ends as Suspect Fired at Deputies, Drone Before Peaceful Surrender
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Key Points
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Investigators said the operation began near West 28th Street and Nicollet Avenue, when Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to execute an arrest warrant and the suspect opened fire on them.
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Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said deputies were serving a felony arrest warrant when the 31-year-old fired a weapon at them multiple times.
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Local reporting said federal agencies—“including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)”—were reported to have joined the response several hours into the incident, and a KSTP reporter said gunfire could still be heard shortly before 16:00.
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MPD described its barricaded-suspect “tiered response” as a transition informed by standard operating procedures cited by the Bureau of Justice Assistance—moving from patrol to trained negotiators to give the person time and space to stabilize and help prevent force.
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Authorities reported they deployed a law-enforcement drone at about 15:52 to help locate the suspect inside the building; the suspect then shot the drone down.
A South Minneapolis standoff that began when a suspect opened fire on deputies serving an arrest warrant stretched nearly eight hours on Tuesday before ending peacefully. Tyler Joseph O'Brien, 31, surrendered at about 7:30 p.m. after shooting at deputies, threatening to detonate an explosive device, and shooting down a law enforcement drone, according to CBS News.
No officers or civilians were injured. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said at an evening press conference, "This could have ended up much differently, and I am so grateful for the professionalism of our law enforcement professionals being able to end this incident safely," according to CBS News.
Suspect Fired on Deputies, Then Shot Down a Drone
Deputies arrived at an apartment near West 28th Street and Nicollet Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. to serve a felony warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, FOX 9 reported. O'Brien opened fire multiple times. No deputies were hit. Officers pulled back and set up a perimeter around the building.
A woman and a child were inside the apartment with O'Brien. Authorities got them out safely by 12:15 p.m., according to FOX 9. At about 1:45 p.m., O'Brien claimed he had an explosive device with a pulled pin. At 3:52 p.m., deputies flew a tactical drone into the building to find him. He shot it down. The drone is valued at roughly $15,000 to $25,000.
FBI and ATF Join as Standoff Drags Into the Evening
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrived at the scene by about 4:30 p.m. to help Hennepin County deputies and the Minneapolis Police Department, FOX 9 reported. More than 50 law enforcement vehicles from at least four agencies were observed on site. Gunfire was still audible near the building shortly before 4:00 p.m.
Negotiators kept O'Brien on the phone for nearly eight hours. He agreed to surrender peacefully at around 7:30 p.m. and walked out without further incident, according to KSTP. He now faces charges that include first-degree assault on a peace officer and destruction of law enforcement property for shooting the drone.
MPD's 'Tiered Response' Model Credited With Peaceful End
Minneapolis police used what they call a "tiered response" — a step-by-step approach that moves from patrol officers to trained crisis negotiators. The goal is to give a suspect time and space to calm down before force is used. The model follows standards set by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a federal agency that sets policing guidelines.
Officials pointed to the safe exit of the woman and child — and the fact that no officer fired a weapon — as proof the slow-paced strategy worked. The approach was shaped in part by past tragedies. In February 2024, three first responders were killed in a standoff in Burnsville, Minnesota. Sheriff Witt said future warrant services will continue to use a "surround and call-out" method rather than forcing entry whenever possible, according to Hoodline.
Assaults on Minnesota Officers Have Risen 160% in a Decade
Tuesday's standoff fits a troubling statewide pattern. According to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension data, assaults on officers in Minnesota rose 160% over the past decade. In 2023 alone, 1,179 officers were assaulted in the state. Two Hennepin County deputies were wounded during a warrant service in Minnetonka in April 2024, and Minneapolis Officer Jamal Mitchell was killed in an ambush in May 2024, according to Willmar Radio.
The eight-hour closure of Nicollet Avenue — a busy commercial street — disrupted local businesses for the day. City officials said they will push for stiffer penalties for destroying law enforcement technology after O'Brien shot down the drone. Mayor Jacob Frey joined Sheriff Witt at the press conference, backing the coordinated response as a model for future high-risk warrant operations.
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