Woodbury Police (MN) Kill Unarmed Black Man who was being Held as Hostage

From [HERE] The family of 19-year old Mark Henderson are spending Labor Day Weekend grieving the loss of their son and brother. "A piece of me has been taken away," said Tawana Henderson, Mark's mother. "My son has been killed and he's never coming back." The Henderson family says Mark was attending a party at the Red Roof Inn in Woodbury in the early morning hours Friday, but the party quickly shifted to a dangerous situation when a man arrived uninvited. "He pulled out a gun and held them hostage," says Tawana.

According to police, a suspect was holding several people hostage and assaulting some of them. When Woodbury Police and the Washington County SWAT team converged on the room a shot was fired in their direction while at the same time Mark Henderson was exiting the room. Officers fired at Henderson believing he had a weapon, but no weapon was found on him. No information was provided regarding why the police thought the black man was armed. Police saw someone come out the door and fired.  

Mark Henderson's family say they've talked to others who were present that night and believe their son was trying to escape the situation because the man inside was threatening to kill them all. 

"My son took a chance and made a run for it," said Tawana. "But he got killed by police instead."

Henderson had been a student at Humboldt High School, but was transitioning to a new job. Family members said he and his girlfriend had a baby on the way.

"I'm very mad, very mad," says Tawana. "In a hostage situation, they could be letting anyone out. You don't just fire at anyone."

The suspect in the case remains in custody on suspicion of kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault.  Charges are expected Tuesday in Washington County court.