March 21--Duluth police weren't sure late this afternoon whether the resident of a Fairmont Park group home had been shot or injured in some other way. But the resident has been hospitalized after an officer fired her gun in the midst of an assault in front of the home at 315 S. 70th Ave. W., police said.
The officer fired after a man who had assaulted a group home staff member was grabbing for her partner's gun, police said. Police believe the resident was shot, Public Information Officer Jim Hansen said.
The female officer was hospitalized, Hansen said. Her male partner wasn't hurt. A group home staff member also was hospitalized. No names were immediately available.
Duluth police and firefighters responded to a call of a man assaulting a staff member -- and of a fire -- in the home at 1:55 p.m. Duluth police Chief Gordon Ramsay held a news conference at City Hall about two hours later as investigators continued to uncover details of the incident.
Ramsay said it was unclear whether the group home resident was hit by a bullet or injured in another way. "Obviously, there was some struggling and some fighting and what-not before the officers got there, so we were unable to confirm whether or not the individual was shot,'' he said.
Ramsay said that when officers arrived, the building was on fire and they heard glass breaking inside the home.
"The officers approached the home and were met by the subject out front, at which time the two officers that responded were assaulted by the subject,'' Ramsay said. "The subject attempted to disarm the officer. He (the resident) grabbed his gun. So a struggle ensued. Both officers ended up being assaulted and one shot was fired."
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and no information has yet been made available on its cause.
Interim Fire Marshal Marnie Grondahl was waiting for police investigators to gather evidence before she began her investigation.
City property and federal tax records show the home is owned by Community Connection Inc. of Duluth. The CEO and sole shareholder of that company is Sharon Mack of Duluth. Community Connection operates eight adult foster care homes in Duluth for people with traumatic brain injuries and related conditions, according to its website. Each home has up to four residents, the website says.
