Charges filed against man shot by St. Paul police

Ramsey County authorities have filed charges against a man who allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer in St. Paul early Sunday morning. The officer shot the man three times.

Minneapolis resident Deshawn Dominique Nelson, 21, is charged with assault in the second degree.

St. Paul police Sgt. Jeremy Ryan, a 15-year veteran of the department, was investigating a burglary on the 1800 block of Marshall Avenue a little after 4 a.m. when he heard what he thought were gunshots nearby, according to the charges. Ryan drove onto Marshall Avenue and startled two passengers in a maroon Ford Edge. When Ryan turned on his siren, the SUV fled.

Nelson bailed out of the passenger door of the SUV as it passed an alley on Marshall, allegedly carrying a "big handgun," according to the criminal complaint. Ryan followed in his squad car.

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Ryan shot Nelson after the suspect allegedly pointed a gun at the officer. After being shot, the officer said Nelson climbed over two fences as he ran from Ryan.

Ryan shot him a second time after he said Nelson raised a gun again. The second gunshot knocked Nelson to the ground. The officer shot Nelson one more time after he rose and staggered away. Emergency responders took Nelson to Regions Hospital for treatment.

Police found a handgun in a yard a few houses away from the shooting. Nelson told police that he fled because he thought he had warrants for not paying train fares in Minneapolis. He denied he had a gun, and said he had a cell phone in his hand.

Police said over the weekend that Ryan injured his knee during the chase but wasn't hit by any bullets. Police said a nearby resident was also injured after he was grazed by a bullet fired during the confrontation but declined medical treatment.