Another high-profile police-related death has rocked Minneapolis, once again thrusting the Twin Cities — and the authorities’ use of controversial no-knock search warrants — into the spotlight. Here’s everything you need to know.

What happened?

Early morning on Wednesday, Feb. 2, the Minneapolis SWAT team entered an apartment at the Bolero Flats in downtown Minneapolis. The authorities were acting on a no-knock search warrant in connection with a January homicide in St. Paul, and gained entrance to the unit with a fob, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.

After announcing their presence upon entry, the police then encountered a man — now identified as 22-year-old Amir Locke — “huddled under a blanket” on the couch holding a handgun, which his family says was legally registered (Locke reportedly worked as a DoorDash driver, and bought the gun for protection against an increase in carjackings). According to the MPD report, Locke’s gun was pointed “in the direction of the officers,” though in since-released body camera footage it’s unclear if that was the case. SWAT team member Mark Hanneman then shot the clearly-startled Locke.

“They loudly and repeatedly announced ‘police search warrant,’ before they crossed the threshold into the apartment, and ongoing as they made entry,” interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman said of authorities during a news conference. “Just over nine seconds after they had made entry into the apartment, the officers encountered a male who was armed with a handgun. He was holding that gun in his hand at the time that shots were fired.”‘

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