Search warrants filed in the fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Andrew Tekle Sundberg shed new light on the circumstances surrounding the hours-long standoff that led to his death.
5 Eyewitness NEWS has also learned that attorneys Ben Crump and Jeffrey Storms will represent Sundberg’s family.
Andrew Tekle Sundberg (Family Photo)
Minneapolis police responded to a report of shots fired Wednesday night around 9:30 p.m. According to a search warrant, members of the Minneapolis SWAT team had “two snipers who established surveillance from the roof of [the] apartment building” across the street from Sundberg’s apartment building.
The order indicated that less lethal rounds were used during the evening and “officers used a public address system [an] try to make contact with the object.
Investigators with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension served the warrants. They were filed for Sundberg’s apartment, as well as another unit in the same building.
“At some point during the standoff, the two snipers shot the male subject,” according to a search warrant. The subject was later identified as Sundberg, and the two officers who fired their rifles were identified Thursday night as Aaron Pearson and Zachary Serafin.
Minneapolis police on standoff overnight from Wednesday July 13th to Thursday July 14th. Credit: KSTP
It is unclear whether the two officers’ shots hit Sundberg.
BCA records show Pearson and Serafin were at the Bolero Flats apartment building in downtown Minneapolis as part of a SWAT team the day Amir Lock was killed in February.
The warrant also noted that BCA agents observed “several bullet casings, both live and fired, in the hallway outside the subject’s apartment, number 318, in addition to multiple apparent bullet holes in the walls that appeared to as if the subject was shooting from his apartment.”
“The ongoing investigation of the scene revealed an apparent bullet hole entering apartment 308,” an adjacent apartment, according to one warrant.
A spokeswoman for Mayor Jacob Frey said the city would not release footage of Friday’s shooting.
The mayor did not comment on BCA search warrants “as this is routine practice during ongoing BCA investigations.”
Statement from Mark and Cindy Sundberg, Tekle’s parents:
“First and foremost, we want the world to know that Tekle was much loved and that his family and friends are beyond shocked and saddened by these horrific events. Tekle was a son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew and friend. He was smart, loving, funny and kind. He had many artistic talents, including photography and painting. Tekle was a deep, soulful, critical thinker who drew strength and energy from being outside and looking across the river. He never misses a nice sunset. From the time he fixed a stapler for his preschool teacher, we knew Tekle could fix anything—furniture, snowplows, and his grandfather’s lawnmower. He had the strength and courage to challenge bullies and stand up for the most vulnerable, but he also had the innate sensitivity to be able to love everyone and everything, from plants to his beloved cat Callie.
“Like millions in America and around the world, Tekle struggled with his mental health. Although we have received very little information so far, it appears that our Tekle is suffering from a mental health crisis. We send our deepest sympathies to everyone in his building affected by his crisis, and we thank the community members who responded in Tekle’s memory.”
Statement from attorneys Ben Crump and Jeff Storms:
“The family has been given very little information as to why Tekle’s mental crisis turned into a death sentence. His family rejects the public narrative that the Minneapolis Police Department’s efforts were made in close cooperation with his family. His parents were severely limited in their ability to interact with Tekle and were not allowed to do everything they could to save their son’s life.
“The account released by the city of Minneapolis was unclear as to exactly what prompted the shooting, stating: ‘After approximately 6 hours of attempted negotiations, an officer-involved exchange of fire occurred . . .'” No information was provided as to why Tekle, whose officers were isolated for hours, he was suddenly to be executed. We are calling on the Minneapolis Police Department to immediately provide the family with video evidence and other information needed to answer this matter.
- Related Stories: Andrew Tekle Sundberg Ben Crump Minneapolis Police Minnesota BCA Police Shooting
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