Teen saved friends as dad shot up home

As dispatchers listened for almost 20 horrifying minutes, four teenagers trapped in a Hudson home were shot at repeatedly by a man who was later critically wounded by deputies early Sunday morning.

St. Croix County authorities said that among the targets of Daniel Christenson, 43, was his 19-year-old son Zach, who not only managed to escape getting shot by his father but also was able to call 911 shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators also credited the younger Christenson with saving the lives of his three friends by leading his father away from them during the shooting spree and then breaking a bedroom window in the basement so all four of them could escape unharmed.

Nearly seven hours later -- shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday -- authorities ended a standoff that involved nearly 50 officers by lobbing chemical projectiles into Christenson's Wisconsin home. Police said Christenson was wounded when he came out of the house and shot at a deputy, who returned fire. No officers were injured in the exchange.

Christenson was listed in critical condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul on Sunday with wounds to his stomach and chest.

The deputies who shot at Christenson were placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation, which is standard, said John Shilts, the chief deputy at the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators estimate Christenson fired dozens of shots inside and outside the home, shooting up areas of his bedrooms, hallways and basement.

Although no clear motive for the shooting was released Sunday, authorities said the shooting spree was precipitated by an argument that erupted between the father and the son.

Larson said the father had been drinking and almost immediately upon coming home he became angry with his son.

"He went to get his pistol and started firing inside the home and at Zach," a somber Larson said. "He was trying to shoot him."

The son was able to escape long enough to call 911 dispatchers, who could hear gunshots during the call, which lasted about 20 minutes.

Larson said that Christenson several times wandered down into the basement area where the three youths were hiding in a closet and fired several rounds in their direction.

Once the son and his friends were safe, he said, police negotiators tried to talk Christenson out of the home but without luck,

"Officers could see him walking in the house with a gun and several times they heard gunfire," Larson said.

He said that after about two hours of not hearing gunfire, the decision was made to go in after him. Chemical canisters were launched into the home.

Larson said that the father tried to leave by the back door, but spotted police in the back yard. He fired at least one shot at a deputy, who returned fire.

It was unclear if the deputy hit Christenson, he said. About 30 seconds later the suspect came out the front door with the gun in his hand.

Christenson had two major wounds, one to his chest and one to his abdomen, but investigators do not know if the second wound was from his own gun or from a deputy's.

"I don't know if he said anything when he came out," Shilts said. "He started raising his gun and a deputy shot him once."