Man Sentenced for Shooting at Brooklyn Park Police Officer
Nearly five years after a Chaska man fired his gun at a Brooklyn Park officer, the suspect learned his punishment for the crime.
James Klein, 37, received a five-year sentence for the shooting that occurred outside the Brooklyn Park Walmart store in March 2020.
Officers returned fire, striking Klein in the leg and hand, before arresting him.
No officers were wounded in the incident.
Klein pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of first-degree assault using deadly force against a peace officer.
“Mr. Klein’s actions were extremely dangerous, and he is being held accountable,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement to CCX News. “I’m grateful neither the responding officers nor other members of the public were physically injured by Mr. Klein.”
Just over a year after the Brooklyn Park incident, Klein was out on bail when got into a shootout with state troopers in Utah after carjacking someone’s vehicle.
Klein is already serving a 25-year term for that incident. He will serve prison time for the Brooklyn Park case following time served for the Utah shooting.
According to the criminal complaint in the Brooklyn Park case:
Police were called to a report of a shoplifting call at the Brooklyn Park Walmart. Officers learned Klein was trying to obtain a “large amount of ammunition and wearing a holster.”
A police officer approached Klein in the parking lot and asked that he stop, but ignored commands.
The officer used a Taser, which had “minimal effect” on Klein, the complaint said.
Klein began running before a firing a gun at the officer. A second officer gave chase and fired at Klein with the suspect’s “handgun still drawn.” Klein was wounded and taken to a hospital for his injuries.
The complaint said police recovered a handgun on Klein and a belt that contained numerous rounds of ammunition.
