Woman armed with knife shot by Robbinsdale police, officials say

An armed woman who refused to comply with an officer's commands was shot Thursday night by a Robbinsdale officer, authorities said.

Investigators said the woman was taken to an area hospital, but they have not released information about her condition.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is now handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Robbinsdale Police Chief Jim Franzen said officers responded about 5:40 p.m. to an apartment complex in the 3700 block of Hubbard Avenue N. on a call of an "unwanted person."

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek told reporters that the woman was armed with a knife.

Authorities said the woman was shot by a Robbinsdale police officer when she refused "officer commands."

A crowd gathered Thursday night outside the police tape as police and sheriff's deputies investigated the scene.

Two teenage girls who saw the aftermath reported seeing a female lying motionless in front of the building after they heard two loud bangs. Kanisha Newman, 14, and a friend said they were hanging out across the street from the apartment building when they thought they heard fireworks go off. Then they heard screaming.

The female was on the ground, her mother holding her, Newman said. The mother screamed at police: " 'Why did you shoot her? You didn't have to shoot her,' " Newman said.

The girls said police then handcuffed the mother.

Newman's mother, Angela, said she moved to Robbinsdale six months ago to get away from the crime in north Minneapolis.

Liz Sawyer • 612-673-4648