SWAT Standoff at Target: Justified?

Based on the information provided, the SWAT standoff at the Target store in Woodbury was a response to a situation involving a suspect who was reported to have stolen license plates, engaged in a physical altercation with officers, and was armed with a handgun5. The suspect then barricaded himself in a vehicle and, despite attempts at negotiation and the use of less-lethal options by law enforcement, eventually brandished a handgun towards officers. In situations like this, law enforcement agencies often deploy SWAT teams to manage the incident due to the heightened risk to public safety and the potential for violence. The justification for such a response typically rests on the need to protect the public and officers, resolve the situation safely, and apprehend the suspect while minimizing harm. The specifics of whether the response was justified would be determined by the investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which reviews the use of force and the circumstances leading up to it.