FOLEY — State investigators have released more information in the Oct. 12 incident in which five officers were shot near Princeton in Benton County.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offered the details in a Wednesday, Oct. 18, news release.
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Members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force and Benton County Sheriff’s Office were serving a knock-and-announce narcotics search warrant at about 7:10 a.m. on Oct. 12 at the residence of Karl Holmberg, 64, in Glendorado Township, according to authorities.
After knocking and entering the home, an exchange of gunfire took place where five task force members were shot, according to the BCA. Six officers were in the residence at the time of the incident.

Two officers returned fire during the initial incident, according to authorities.
The officers left the home and called in negotiators. After more than three hours, Holmberg was convinced to exit the residence, authorities say. Eventually, one officer fired a single, less-lethal round and a K-9 was deployed to take Holmberg into custody.
Holmberg suffered minor injuries. After receiving medical treatment, Holmberg was taken to Benton County Jail. He faces six charges of attempted murder and six charges of first-degree assault in the incident.
He remains in the Benton County Jail on a $3 million conditional bail, or $6 million bail without conditions.
The BCA on Wednesday gave more information on the three officers who they say used force in the incident:
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- Benton County Deputy Ron Thomas fired a pistol. Thomas has eight years of law enforcement experience, according to the release.
- Sherburne County Patrol Sgt. Austin Turner fired the less-lethal round, according to BCA. Turner has eight years of law enforcement experience.
- A third officer works in an undercover capacity on the Sherburne County Drug Task Force. Under the BCA said it will not release the officer's name.
All three officers are on standard administrative leave, according to the release.
Five of six officers involved in the incident were injured by gunfire: Three officers were flown to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, and the other two were taken by ambulance to CentraCare — St. Cloud hospital, according to court documents.
One officer remains hospitalized in stable condition, the BCA said.
Task force members were wearing body cameras that captured portions of the incident, which is being reviewed by BCA agents as part of the ongoing investigation.
At the crime scene, BCA personnel recovered 10 firearms at the scene along with ammunition and cartridge casings.
What we know
Holmberg’s wife, who was in the residence at the time of the shooting incident, was interviewed by agents, according to court documents filed on Oct. 13. She told authorities that she woke up to her husband telling her that “they” were here, and that it was “his day to die.”
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According to documents, Holmberg asked her to check monitors that showed an exterior view of the property and observed police officers outside.
After hearing officers enter the home, Holmberg’s wife told authorities he began shooting a military-style rifle “blindly” through a closed bedroom door. Holmberg asked her to join the fight, and when she declined, he called her a coward, according to documents.
At the crime scene, officers found .223 shell casings in the room they say Holmberg was in during the initial incident.
In an interview with BCA agents later that day inside the North Memorial Medical Center, Holmberg indicated that he knew police officers were at the door and did not think they had a right to be there, according to court documents.
Online court records indicate Holmberg’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 24.
Each charge of attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while a charge of assault in the first degree — deadly force against a police officer has a sentencing guideline of not less than 10 years or more than 20 and/or $30,000.