Police shot and wounded a man Tuesday evening in south Minneapolis after an altercation following a car crash.

The shooting occurred about 6:10 p.m. in the 2900 block of S. Bloomington Avenue, one block north of E. Lake Street, said police spokesman John Elder.

The man was taken to an area hospital with a nonlife threatening gunshot wound, according to Elder.

Elder said a two-officer police squad was responding to a crash at the location when they encountered the man. He said an "armed confrontation" ensued, but added it was not yet clear whether the man fired at officers, how many officers were involved or what led police to open fire.

Elder said officers made contact with the adult male before the armed confrontation, but said it was too early in the investigation to say with certainty what happened.

A handgun was recovered at the scene, Elder said. No officers were injured in the incident, which is being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

It follows a similar episode in St. Paul the night before, in which an officer and a suspect traded gunfire. No one was injured, but police fatally shot the suspect Tuesday night in St. Cloud, according to authorities.

St. Cloud police said they were helping St. Paul police and the ATF look for the suspect, who was found in a vehicle in a parking lot. When officers tried to take him into custody, police said he got out of the vehicle with a firearm. Several officers fired their weapons and the man died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts.

The BCA is investigating the case.

Libor Jany • 612-673-4064