Man arrested hours after opening fire on Hennepin County deputies in south Minneapolis, sheriff says

Law enforcement officers arrested a man in south Minneapolis Tuesday evening following an hourslong standoff.

The deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for 31-year-old Tyler Joseph O'Brien around 11:30 a.m. at an apartment unit on West 28th Street and Nicollet Avenue when they heard multiple shots fired. Deputies retreated and heard several more shots, according to Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.

Deputies quickly learned a woman and child were in the apartment with O'Brien and were able to assist them in safely exiting the building.

The apartment building was evacuated while the suspect remained barricaded inside.

Witt says about an hour into the standoff, O'Brien told authorities he had pulled the pin on an explosive device and was willing to throw it. Another shot was heard, but Witt says no explosive device was used.

Deputies say they used a drone to find the suspect inside this apartment, but he shot it down.

Negotiators were able to contact O'Brien via phone, eventually leading to his surrender.

Witt says no law enforcement personnel discharged a firearm during the eight-hour standoff.

"This could have ended up much differently and I am so grateful for the professionalism of our law enforcement professionals being able to end this incident safely," Witt said.

No injuries occurred during the incident.