NEW HOPE, Minn. - Two police officers were injured by a gunman outside a New Hope City Council meeting on Monday night. The gunman was fatally shot by police, authorities said.
The incident happened outside the council chambers after two new officers were sworn in. The new officers, and a number of their veteran colleagues, had just left the chambers about 7:15 p.m. when they were confronted by the gunman.
According to Hennepin County chief sheriff’s deputy Mike Carlson, two New Hope officers were shot by a man armed with a long gun. Officers immediately returned fire, killing the gunman.
Carlson said the injured officers were in good condition at a local hospital.
It wasn’t clear whether the injured officers were the newly sworn-in members of the force or veteran officers.
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Carlson didn’t identify the gunman or disclose a possible motive for the assault at City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave. N.
The incident was being investigated by the Hennepin County sheriff’s office along with New Hope police.
Cable-access video from inside the council chambers was later posted to YouTube.
The video shows council members taking cover behind their desks as multiple shots are heard outside the chambers.
In the video, council member John Elder, who is a public information officer for the Minneapolis Police Department, brandishes a handgun and orders everyone in the room to take cover.
“Get down! Get down! Everybody get down!” he says.
Another council member says, “Somebody got shot.”
Audience members are seen lying on the floor between chairs.
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City Hall was later evacuated. No one else was injured.
