Columbia Heights man followed into house, shot by intruder

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Minn. (KMSP) - A 76-year-old man from Columbia Heights, Minn. is in the hospital after he was shot and robbed inside his home Tuesday night on the 5000 block of Johnson Street NE. The man told police he returned home at about 9 p.m. and had just walked into the house through his attached garage when he was shot.

The suspect entered the still-open garage door, walked into the house and immediately shot the man without making any demands. The homeowner was shot more than once, but was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and is expected to survive.

The suspect then searched the man's pockets, stole his wallet and ran out of the house. Officers spent hours searching the neighborhood Tuesday night, bringing in a State Patrol helicopter to help scan the area.

“It's a particularly troubling incident because of the brazenness of the act and the immediate use of violence,” said Commander Paul Sommer of the Anoka County sheriff’s office. “It certainly could have turned into a homicide.”

At this point, it appears this incident was totally random. The victim did not recognize the suspect, but police are checking cameras in the area to try to identify the shooter. Anyone with information should call the Anoka County sheriff's office.