BCA identifies Minneapolis police officers involved in shootout

Suspect fled, crashed and was hurt in an exchange of gunfire, authorities say.

January 21, 2021 at 2:19AM
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Police wounded a suspect Thursday morning along Dowling Avenue near Vincent Avenue in an exchange of gunfire. (Jerry Holt • jerry.holt@startribune.com/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the Minneapolis police officers who fired their weapons during a Jan. 14 shootout with a suspect.

Zedrick Andrew Cooper, 36, was charged in Hennepin County District Court last week with three counts of first-degree assault and one count of ineligible possession of ammunition and a firearm following the brief chase that ended with the gunfight in north Minneapolis. Cooper was shot by police several times. Police have said he is expected to survive.

The officers who fired their guns were identified as Felix Alvarado, a four-year veteran; Cory Krautkramer, a seven-year veteran, and Kyle Pond, a seven-year veteran.

Officers who fired their less-lethal projectiles were Aaron Pearson and Nathan Sundberg. Both have been with the department for seven years.

According to the charges against Cooper, a confidential informant told police Thursday that a man driving an SUV pointed an AK-47 at him at the Full Stop gas station at N. Lowry and Logan avenues. A woman also called 911 and reported that a man driving an SUV pointed a gun at her at the same location.

Police arriving at the scene found a vehicle matching the description, and the driver later identified as Cooper fled.

During an attempted turn, Cooper's vehicle slid across an intersection, struck a stop sign and became lodged on the curb.

Six officers approached and ordered him to put his hands up and exit the vehicle, the charges said. Cooper revved the car engine in an apparent attempt to flee, causing the front wheels to spin.

Officers tried to open the locked car doors as they continued to give commands, according to the complaint. An officer broke the driver's side window with a flashlight.

Cooper had a gun, prompting the officer to yell an alert to the other officers as Cooper fired shots at them, the charges said. Video from a bystander shows a pair of officers taking cover behind a squad as about 10 rounds of gunfire are heard.

Officers fired back at Cooper, who was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921

about the writer

about the writer

Abby Simons

Team Leader

Abby Simons is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Public Safety Editor. Her team covers crime and courts across the metro. She joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2008 and previously reported on crime, courts and politics.

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