Police Officer Melissa Jayne Schmidt

Melissa Jayne Schmidt

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 had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for more than 6 years and was assigned to the Public Housing Unit. She previously served with the United States Marine Corps in MCAS Iwakuni, Japan and the U.S. Foreign Interests Section in Havana, and in Cuba as a Marine Security Guard. Officer Schmidt is survived by her parents and brother.