UPDATE – Police Presence in Albert Lea
UPDATE: The Albert Lea Police Department has shared this media release on their Facebook page. We will update the details more as they are shared.
3 Jan 19
From: Director
To: Media
Subj: ALBERT LEA OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
Albert Lea police officers were involved in an officer involved shooting incident that happened just after 10 a.m. today. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) will conduct an investigation into the incident.
Officers responded to a 911 Call for Service involving an individual in the alleyway behind the 300 block of Court Street. Officers located the individual and at one point during the encounter, officers discharged their weapons, striking the individual.
The officers attempted lifesaving measures, but the individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. No one else was injured during the incident. Officers are on standard administrative leave.
The officers were not wearing body cameras. Investigators will determine whether dash cameras captured the incident.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the identity of the deceased individual as well as the cause and manner of death once an autopsy and family notifications are completed.
The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Gold Cross Medical and Albert Lea Fire and Rescue responded to the scene after the shooting incident.The BCA will conduct an independent investigation of the incident. They will release any further information as their investigation progresses.
I saw on my Facebook news feed this morning that there was/is a large law enforcement presence in Albert Lea, my hometown. Several different reports have boiled into one from KIMT news. Euclid Avenue in Albert Lea was closed and the Albert Lea Police Department, Freeborn County Sheriff's Office, Albert Lea Fire Department, and Gold Cross Ambulance were on scene.
There was a stand-off, according to a neighbor, and a man ran into an alley after refusing to put a knife down, as well as shots fired by law enforcement. According to the Albert Lea Tribune, law enforcement is investigating a death in town, and it looks like it is in the same neighborhood.
We will share more details as updates on this story are made available.