A Costco in Burnsville was evacuated Wednesday night as police responded to a report of a man with a gun in the store's parking lot.
Police said they were negotiating with a suicidal man in a car near the store's gas pumps and that the man told them he had a gun. The incident started around 5:30 p.m. near Burnhaven Drive and McAndrews Road.
The white male, who appeared to be in his late 20s, was sitting in his car, surrounded by police.
At least five agencies responded to the crisis call, including SWAT teams from Burnsville and Eagan. A police sniper appeared to be watching from the Costco gas station roof as a police drone zooms overhead.
Burnsville police were warning on Twitter for people to stay out of the area.
As darkness fell, half a dozen residents clamored atop a nearby hill to get a better view of the scene, which spans several blocks.
Sanaa Hersi, a local educator, was returning home when she saw squad cars were blocking her street.
"Burnsville is usually really quiet," said Hersi, who has lived there for six years. "Hopefully it ends well."
