Minneapolis Police Department, Minnesota
End of Watch: Thursday, August 1, 2002
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 6 years, 6 months
Badge Number: 6367
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 1, 2002
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Officer Melissa Schmidt was shot and killed after she and her partner responded to a call shortly after 7:00 pm reporting a woman with a gun at a public housing complex.
Contact was made with the 60-year-old female suspect at Horn Towers, and while the officers were questioning her, she said she needed to go to the bathroom. Officer Schmidt escorted the woman to the public restroom in the lobby of the building. While in the restroom, the woman produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Schmidt in the abdomen below her vest. Officer Schmidt was able to return fire and killed the suspect.
Officer Schmidt was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served with the Minneapolis Police Department for more than six years and was assigned to the Public Housing Unit. She is survived by her parents and brother.