Crystal man charged in Brooklyn Park Police officer shooting
12/14/2020
A Crystal man was charged with attempted first-degree murder, among other charges, for shooting and injuring a Brooklyn Park Police officer, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Tyrice Laws, 38, was charged with attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, first-degree assault of a police officer, one count for violating an order for protection while possessing a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm while the subject of an order for protection. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance December 15 at 1:30 p.m.
According to the criminal complaint, on December 11, the mother of Laws’ children observed a vehicle pull into her driveway in Brooklyn Park from her surveillance livestream while she and her children were not home. Laws called her and demanded to see the children.
The victim called 911 to report that Laws was at her residence, in violation of an order of protection against him which prohibits Laws from having any contact with her residence, according to the complaint.
Two Brooklyn Park Police officers, in separate squad cars, responded to the scene and approached Laws’ vehicle from each side. Neither officer drew their service weapon as they approached, the complaint states. Laws then got out of his car, bent down, and reached into his vehicle before standing back up. Shortly after, Laws reached down again, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at one of the officers.
Laws fired his gun five or six times at the officer, firing the first shot when he was five to seven feet away, the complaint states. Both officers returned fire, and one officer fell to the ground. Laws retreated and fled into the backyard of the residence.
The officer who was shot was taken to the hospital and was treated for a gunshot wound to the hip and buttock. Laws was arrested and transported to HCMC to be treated for a gunshot wound to his left bicep, the complaint states.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reviewed both squad video and body camera footage during its investigation into the officer shooting of Laws, which remains under investigation. Laws is currently being held at the Hennepin County Jail.
View the criminal complaint against Laws (PDF).