Warrant: Teenager shot at City Hall approached officers with knife raised

A man shot by police inside Minneapolis City Hall last month raised the knife he had used to stab himself while approaching officers before they discharged their weapons, according to court documents.

Police filed a search warrant Tuesday for 18-year-old Marcus Fischer's medical records, giving a more complete narrative of what led to the shooting inside an interview room in City Hall Dec. 13.

At the time Fischer was left alone in the room after being questioned for his involvement in an attempted murder and robbery earlier in the day, a crime he was later charged for. Several sources who saw surveillance video of Fischer's interview said he confessed to the crime.

Once officers left, Fischer produced a knife from his waistband and stabbed himself repeatedly in the chest and neck, as well as slashing his throat multiple times, according to the warrant. 

Officers deployed a taser and told Fischer to drop the knife, commands police say he ignored. Walking toward them with his weapon raised, two officers fired their weapons and Fischer fell to the ground.

Police Union President Bob Kroll later called the officers' actions "heroic," saying they were able to save a life by firing their service weapons rather than taking one.

“Clearly what this suspect wanted was suicide by cop and these cops did everything they could to prevent that,”  Kroll said. “Officers tried to de-escalate the situation before they had to intervene to save his life.” 

After several delays due to his medical condition, Fischer made his first court appearance Dec. 29 and had a bail hearing Jan. 3. 

DEC. 13 ROBBERY AND SHOOTING

According to charges, on Dec. 13, a man was attempting to sell a Kel-Tech 9mm handgun. His friend called Fischer, who expressed interest in purchasing the gun.

They met Fischer on the 1400 block of 5th Street Northeast in Minneapolis. The group pulled into an alley to conduct the transaction. 

Fischer reportedly took the handgun, pulled out his own gun and said something to the effect of "It's mine now." He then shot the seller in the chest and left the scene with both weapons. 

The seller's friends drove the wounded man to a gas station in Anoka County, where they called 911. His friends initially claimed he was shot during a road rage incident, but later admitted he was shot under other circumstances. The victim remains hospitalized. 

Police recovered both the Kel-Tech handgun and bullets similar to those shot by the other handgun at Fischer's home. 

He faces robbery and assault charges, as well as a charge for illegally possessing a firearm.