Off-duty St. Paul officer fires shots at armed Walmart shoplifter

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The St. Paul Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting and police chase outside the Walmart located at 1450 W. University Avenue. The officer and suspect were not injured.

According to officials, an off-duty St. Paul police officer working at the Walmart approached a suspected shoplifter in the entryway of the store. The suspect, James Frei, 34, of Tomah, Wis. pointed a weapon at the officer and fled on foot.

The officer pursued Frei through the parking lot until he got into a pickup truck and pointed the weapon at the officer again, at which point the officer fired his gun at Frei.

The officer, Michael Tschida, is a five-year veteran of the department. Tschida is on a three-day administrative leave, which is standard procedure.