Andrew Thomas, 28, was federally charged on Monday with being a felon in possession of a firearm following his arrest on suspicion of firing shots at members of the National Guard early Sunday morning.
On Wednesday, six additional felony charges were filed in Hennepin County against Thomas, including three counts of first-degree assault against a peace officer, two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to charging documents in both cases, a team of Minnesota National Guard soldiers along with officers from the Minneapolis Police Department were stationed at the corner of Penn Avenue North and West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of Operation Safety Net, a Minnesota multi-agency operation formed to deter and respond to possible unrest during and after the trial of Derek Chauvin.
At approximately 4:19 a.m. Sunday, a light-colored SUV drove past the intersection, and multiple shots were fired out of the vehicle at the stationary Guard and squad vehicles. Officers took cover and were not able to get a clear view of the shooter, but one did see a black male leaning out one of the driver’s side windows of the vehicle. One bullet went through the windshield of a National Guard vehicle, which held four guardsmen. Two soldiers suffered minor injuries and one of them was treated at a hospital for injuries from shattered glass.
The suspect vehicle fled from the area at a high rate of speed. Police chased after, but lost sight of it as it fled toward Robbinsdale.
Thomas was arrested later Sunday night after police spotted and pulled over a vehicle in south Minneapolis that matched the one from the incident. A subsequent search of the vehicle found items including two firearms and spent bullet casings. A ballistics comparison was done involving a 9mm pistol found in the vehicle and the discharged casings found inside the vehicle and at the scene of the shots fired at the National Guard. Preliminary tests indicated that all discharged casings were fired from the same gun.
Thomas has a 2017 Minnesota felony conviction for third-degree assault, which makes him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition.
Thomas has been ordered to remain in custody on the federal charge while awaiting a future court appearance. Thomas has not yet made an initial court appearance on the new Hennepin County charges.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
