Police shoot, kill man with gun outside Ramsey day care center

Police officers shot and killed a man who had pulled on gun on them Thursday afternoon outside a day care center in the north metro city of Ramsey.

Police say three men in a vehicle pulled into the parking lot of the Learning Lodge day care center. Learning Lodge staff considered the men suspicious and called police, said Paul Sommer, commander in the Anoka County Sheriff's office.

"Apparently they weren't anybody the staff was familiar with," Sommer said. "And they were just sitting in the car. Your classic police call - an occupied suspicious vehicle."

Two officers responded in separate squad cars and approached the car.

"One of the three got out of the car and began to run," Sommer said. "When the officers gave chase, the suspect pointed a handgun at them. And the Ramsey officers then opened fire, striking the suspect."

The suspect was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sommer said initial reports indicate that the man had opened fire on officers, but said that is yet to be confirmed. It's unclear if one or both officers opened fire on the man. He said the suspect ran less than 20 yards before turning around on the officers. The man has not been identified. The two other men stayed in the car during the incident and were taken in for questioning after the shooting.

Sommer said it is unclear why the three men were in the area, but the daycare center went on lockdown for about 30 minutes. The building was later evacuated. The staff and children went across the street to a church. No children were harmed in the shooting.

The officers are on standard paid administrative leave.