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BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. A 9 p.m. shift inside an auto parts store along one of Brooklyn Park’s busiest commercial corridors ended in gunfire Tuesday night, leaving an employee in critical condition and prompting a sweeping ground and air search that, as of Wednesday evening, had produced no arrests.
According to the Brooklyn Park Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to the AutoZone at 7708 Brooklyn Boulevard on a report of a shooting.
Life-Saving Measures Inside the Store
When officers entered the store, they located an adult male employee suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police immediately rendered emergency medical aid, including the application of a chest seal, before the victim was transported to a local hospital.
As of late Wednesday, Feb. 18, the employee remained hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said. Investigators have not publicly released his identity.
Law enforcement officials have not formally detailed the number or precise location of the injuries. However, emergency radio traffic and local reporting indicate the victim sustained at least two serious wounds, including one to the abdomen and a “through-and-through” injury to the hip. Police have not independently confirmed those specifics in a formal briefing.
Massive Search With K9 and State Patrol Helicopter
Within minutes of securing the scene, officers established a perimeter around the store and nearby commercial properties along Brooklyn Boulevard.
The search effort included:
- Ground units canvassing the area
- A department K9 deployed to track a potential scent trail
- A helicopter from the Minnesota State Patrol providing aerial surveillance and thermal imaging
Despite the coordinated ground and aerial operation, no suspect was taken into custody Tuesday night. The department confirmed Wednesday afternoon that no arrests have been made and that the investigation remains active.
During the search, investigators recovered what was described over police radio as a discarded ski mask in the vicinity of the scene. Authorities have not publicly confirmed forensic details but indicated evidence is being processed.
Suspect Information and Motive
Police have not released an official suspect description in a formal press statement. However, radio dispatch traffic and witness accounts described two individuals possibly fleeing on foot wearing dark clothing and ski masks.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether one or more suspects were involved, nor have they stated whether the shooting was a targeted attack, an attempted robbery, or stemmed from another dispute.
“The motive remains under investigation,” the department said in a follow-up statement.
A Location With Prior Violence
Tuesday night’s shooting is not the first violent incident connected to this stretch of Brooklyn Boulevard.
In March 2025, gunfire was reported at the same AutoZone location. In that case, an employee was shot at multiple times while taking out the trash but was not struck. No arrest was announced in that investigation.
Police have not said whether detectives believe the 2025 incident is connected to Tuesday’s shooting, but investigators are expected to review prior case files as part of their standard procedure.
Community Impact
The AutoZone sits within a dense commercial strip that includes restaurants, retail storefronts, and service businesses serving Brooklyn Park’s central corridor. Late evening gunfire in such a setting reverberates beyond a single address.
As detectives continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, the department is asking anyone with information to contact Brooklyn Park police or submit an anonymous tip through the city’s Tip411 system.
For now, one employee remains in critical care, a store remains at the center of an active investigation, and a community is left waiting for answers.
The case remains under investigation.
