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Feb 22, 2009 11:31 pm US/Central
Wanted Suspect Shot, Killed By Shakopee Police
SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Shakopee Police said Gordon William Denmark, 36, was wanted by police for several charges after he allegedly assaulted his ex-wife and a neighbor with a knife.
A Shakopee man was shot and killed by police after he refused to drop a knife and was unaffected by a Taser, according to police.
The Shakopee Police Department said 36-year-old Gordon William Denmark, known to friends and family as Bill, was wanted by police for several charges after he allegedly assaulted his ex-wife and a neighbor with a knife on Feb. 20 around 11 p.m. Police said the assault occurred on the 3000 block of Pine Tree Lane in Shakopee.
According to police, at around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, officers returned to the scene of the assault to continue their investigation. When they arrived, there was evidence that someone had broken into the home.
Police report that several officers entered the home and found Denmark hiding in an attic space in a bedroom. Denmark emerged from the space holding a knife. When commanded to drop the knife, police used a Taser on Denmark but, police said, that was ineffective.
The Shakopee Police Department said officers, fearing for their lives, shot Denmark. He died at the scene.
A friend of the Denmark family said Denmark and his wife Jennifer were going through a divorce. Denmark was facing a 2nd degree domestic assault charge after an altercation with his wife that took place five months ago.
Nikki Powell said Jennifer Denmark was worried about both her own safety and the safety of the couple's three children.
"He had beaten her up really bad because he didn't want her to leave and he didn't want her to take his kids away. Because he did, he loved his kids a lot," said Powell.
Bill Denmark's attorney, James Hanvik, said he was shocked by the alleged violence.
"I think they were attempting to work things out. He certainly was a devoted father. That's one thing everybody says about him. In all the times we talked he was not concerned about himself, he was concerned about his kids," said Hanvik.
The Shakopee officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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