Richfield police shoot, kill suspect; officer wounded
A Richfield police officer shot and killed a suspect at 3:24 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2026, on the 7500 block of Morgan Avenue, and one officer was wounded, police said. (fox9.com)
Officers were responding to a report of a car prowler when the suspect fled on foot, brandished a firearm and exchanged gunfire with officers, police said. The suspect was shot and died at the scene, while a Richfield officer suffered a gunshot wound to the hand and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.
The episode traces back to December 2025, when Richfield and nearby suburbs saw a spike in early-morning car break-ins and launched targeted patrols during those hours to curb thefts. That local uptick has coincided with a regional surge in vehicle crimes; Minneapolis reported 1,450 auto thefts in the first three months of 2026.
Westbound 76th Street was closed for an active crime scene, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating. Statewide totals show 123 killings by police, with Black people 5.4 times and Latino people 1.1 times as likely to be killed by police as White people based on population.
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📊 Relevant Data
In Minneapolis, which borders Richfield, there were 1,450 reported auto thefts in the first three months of 2026, marking a significant increase amid a regional surge in vehicle crimes. ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-auto-thefts-surge-in-2026-as-suspects-turn-to-modern-key-programming-devices/601640133))
Auto thefts spike in Minneapolis as high-tech hacks spread — Star Tribune
From 2016 to 2022, the Minneapolis Police Department used force against Black people at 9 times the per capita rate compared to White people, and against Native American people at 13.9 times the per capita rate. ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/minneapolis_findings_report.pdf))
Investigation of the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department — U.S. Department of Justice
In Minnesota, there have been 123 killings by police, with Black people 5.4 times as likely and Latino people 1.1 times as likely to be killed by police as White people based on population. ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn))
Police Scorecard: Minnesota — Police Scorecard
📌 Key Facts
- Incident began at 3:24 a.m. April 29, 2026, on the 7500 block of Morgan Avenue in Richfield.
- Officers were responding to a report of a car prowler when the suspect fled on foot.
- Police say the suspect brandished a firearm and exchanged gunfire with officers, was shot and died at the scene.
- A Richfield officer suffered a gunshot wound to the hand and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.
- Westbound 76th Street was closed for an active crime scene, and the Minnesota BCA is investigating.
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