Please search hard. OPEN THE DOOR. DO IT NOW. Go fast. >> GO GET HIM. GET HIM. When seven members of a drug task force entered a home to execute a search warrant, they were suddenly met with repeated gunfire from inside, leaving five officers wounded and forcing the team to pull back. On October 12th, 2023, in the town of Glen Dorado, about 80 kilometers northwest of Minneapolis, officers from Sherburn County and Benton County, executed a drugrelated search warrant at a residence on 191st Avenue in Princeton. Inside the home were Carl Thomas Holberg, 66, and his wife, Dorene. Court records show Holberg was convicted of cocaine possession in 1986 and another serious drug possession offense in 2006. Most recently in 2019, he received a civil citation for not wearing a seat belt while driving. Holberg had already been on local law enforcement's radar. Police knew he kept multiple firearms in the house, so the raid was carefully planned with an emphasis on speed and full protective gear. Officers approached the home, knocked, demanded the door be opened, and announced they had a search warrant. I think I hear him inside. >> POLICE SEARCH WARRANT, OPEN THE DOOR NOW. POLICE SEARCH WARRANT, OPEN THE DOOR, LOCK. With the door locked and no one answering, police forced entry. During the initial sweep, they did not find anyone in the main areas of the home. But as the team moved deeper and approached the bedroom door, gunshots suddenly erupted from inside, fired through the closed door, striking multiple officers. >> Police. COME ON NOW, SIR. YOUR HANDS UP. I'm here. I'm hit. >> You okay? You okay? >> Anyone hit? I'm hit. >> I'm hit. >> All right, LET'S GET OUTSIDE. GET OUTSIDE. GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO. Is everybody outside? >> IS EVERYBODY OUTSIDE? WHERE'S CHRIS? WHERE'S CHRIS? Right here. Right here. >> See if they get that leg. Get over here. Get behind the car. Come on. Hey, you're all right. You're all right. You're all right. >> Chaos broke out immediately. Under continued fire, officers were forced to retreat and pull the wounded out of the danger zone. Police determined the shots were fired [music] by Holberg from inside the bedroom. Although the shield stopped a burst of rounds, the distance was so close that some rounds still penetrated and caused injuries. [music] After the initial exchange, three officers were confirmed injured. Officer Nick was the most seriously hurt and went [music] down as fellow officers provided immediate first aid. >> Tourniquet. Tournate. I got you now. >> I got you. I got you. I got you. >> Where you shot? >> Right arm. Right arm. Right arm. >> I got you. I got you. >> Yeah. >> Shot. >> Right arm. Right arm. Right arm. >> I got you. I got you. >> Yeah. >> Right arm. >> Where you at? >> Help. We got two officers now. >> Hurry up. >> Helicopter. >> Cody. >> Hurry up. >> I got you, brother. I got you. >> You're going to be just fine. >> Back it up, please. >> Dude. Dude, there. Losing blood. Losing blood. >> Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Here. Here. Here, let me see. Let me see. Where's your leg at? Length arm. >> Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. Lift up a little bit. Okay. I got to get up high and tight to the joint. >> Can we get in there? >> 455. Should we talk about squad? >> Because they were wearing body armor. Nick's wounds and the injuries to the other officers were not believed to be life-threatening as long as bleeding was controlled before transport. We're going to get to the van, brother. I'm going tight. Hey, >> we're going to try to get him to the van. Okay. >> Can we get one of your tighter tighter tighter tighter? >> I'm working on it. I'm working. >> I got you, brother. I got you. You're going to be just fine. Okay. >> Hey, Cody, when you have it on there, >> guys. Tighter. >> You're good. You're good. I got to just get the bleeding to stop. Okay. I don't want to go too tight. The bleeding's controlled. >> I need a knife or something. I need to see what's going on here. Right here. >> You cover. Cover. >> Just in case they come out, I need to know. >> Hey, I'm going to reload. >> Okay. All right. All right. I got you, brother. I got you. Okay. I see what's going on. >> Okay. You're good. >> You got um that side. >> You got the front. >> While medical aid was being given, other officers maintained a watch toward the interior approach, protecting the team. >> Okay. >> You just stay eyes on there. I got him. I promise you, I got him. Do not let anyone sneak up on us. >> You did a body check. Yeah, he's good. >> What's your name? >> Nick. >> Nick, I'm Cody. Listen to me. I got you. Okay. >> All right. >> I'm not going to let a damn thing happened to you. >> The front just so you guys know. >> Watch the front. >> Did you check his belly? >> Yeah. >> Get this armor off of him. I want to make sure he didn't get hit anywhere else. Everyone else, make sure you cover us. We're fully vulnerable here. Full eyes. The bleeding is controlled. All right, brother. >> All right. >> You're going to be fine, Nick. I got you. >> I got you. All right. >> After bleeding was stabilized, Nick was transported to the hospital in stable condition and fully alert. Officer down. >> Nick has been shot in the right arm. Tourniquet mark at 7:15 hours. >> Open laceration all the way down the arm. I'd say maybe a liter of blood loss before the tourniquet was on. A positive blood type. >> Let's get blood. Let's get two units of blood. >> A positive. >> A positive. Thank you. Two other officers with less severe injuries were taken by patrol car to a nearby ambulance. >> Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. >> Yeah. Get in. Hey, I'm going down. Should we talk about you want to my bandies or somebody left? Yeah. Yeah. Hey, you guys look at each other. Strip your vest off. Take your vest off. Buddy, dude. Okay. Hang in there, buddy. >> Chris, where you at? Right hand. >> All right. Come on, buddy. Come on. I got you. We got you. >> Hey, he's hitting the chest. Shot. Shots fired. We need to get to the ambulance now. >> Yeah, let's go, buddy. >> Within minutes, they were transported to the hospital for treatment. >> I got one in the hand. Back at the scene, Homeberg remained barricaded inside and specialized units were called in to handle the armed suspect. The front door opened. Dorene stepped out alone with her hands raised, unarmed. >> Hands up. LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS. >> HANDS UP. >> WALK TO ME. >> Stay there. Stay there. Watch that door. Watch that door. >> Walk to me. >> Keep your hands in the air. Walk to me. Hey, it's a male. Female. >> It's a male. >> Female. >> Female. >> Come out with your hands up. Come to us right now. Don't ask any questions. I'll take verbs. Okay. >> Watch to us right now. Hands up. Do not lower your hands. >> Keep coming. >> Come. I do not ar >> keep coming. Keep coming to me over here. >> The house. Come, come, come. >> Kill him. Look at him. >> He's still alive. >> Hey, watch that door. Okay, sir. >> What does he got for firearms? >> I don't know. Just let me I'm scared to death. I'm freezing cold. >> I'm sorry about that. Can you sit down right there? You can keep smoking. >> I don't know what the hell's going on. >> We're here for a search warrant. Who else is inside the house? Your husband. >> My dog. My dog. My dog. >> Your husband's name is Carl. I got her. Sorry. >> Officers gathered information from her about what was happening inside. Yeah. >> Are you injured? >> No, I'm scared. >> Is Carl injured? >> I can guess. >> Where did he get shot? >> His leg. >> Is he still alive? >> Yes. >> Does he What does he have for firearms? >> Guns. >> What kind? >> Um, >> what was he shooting at us with? >> I don't know. >> I woke up to this. Okay. >> Were you guys in the same bedroom together? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Who else is in the house? >> Yeah, just Carl. >> Carl in the back. >> Did he have rifles or handguns? What did he shoot us with? I shoot seven rounds. It's a a 20 gauge, 12 gauge. I don't know. >> Okay. >> Explain this to me. >> We will explain this. Right now is not the time. Okay. >> We got to make sure that Carl is okay. >> He's not okay. And he's shot. >> We want him to >> You shot my husband. >> According to investigators, Holberg told his wife to shoot at police. She refused. Holberg then criticized her as a coward. Once police confirmed Holberg was the only person left inside, wounded in the leg and still in possession of multiple guns, negotiators began contacting him via loudspeaker and phone to avoid another violent confrontation. [music] Holberg eventually came outside with empty hands and no [music] weapon. Even so, officers remained extremely cautious given that he had just fired multiple rounds at law enforcement. Don't let him get back in that house. >> I won't. >> Can we get canine? >> Hey, Derek. Carl, >> I need you to stand up with your hands up. We have a canine on scene. We don't want you to get bit, sir. >> We want to push up to the opening so you have more room. >> What's that, sir? >> I need to be right up here if he's in a good target lock. >> Let him move in. >> Can you speak up, sir? >> Let the team know that I'm moving up. >> He's going to bite you IF YOU DON'T COMPLY with me, sir. >> What's that? >> Down. Hey, watch him, Bronco. Watch that guy. >> Watch him. >> Watch that guy. >> A K9 unit was deployed to assist, aiming to minimize casualties if a direct confrontation occurred. >> Carl, I need you to comply or I'm going to send the dog and you will be bit. >> Watch. Okay, >> can you put your hands on the hood of that car for us? >> Just put your hands on the hood of that car, buddy. Just work. We don't want anyone to get hurt. Just put your hands on the hood of the car. Carl, I need to see both your hands. Can you put them on your chest and like hug yourself? Just keep your hands there and come towards me. I appreciate you crossing your arms so I can see your hands. Are you able to walk a little bit? I'm asking for three or four steps. Carl, can you just walk three or four steps? Lean up against either the Impala or the back of the Sebring. That's all I'm asking. >> Just right to that front fender, Carl. That's all I'm asking. Lean up against that. Please. >> He is. I can't see what's behind that mattress. >> I can't either. He's looking down at you. >> I can't hear you. Carl, can you guys hear him? >> No, >> I can't hear him. Carl, I can't hear you, bud. Can you move up to the passenger side of the car so we can talk? Yeah. Where are you hurting, Carl? >> In your foot, >> I can get you some medical attention for that. >> Yeah, I can see blood on his right foot. >> Say again. >> Watch that guy. Bronco. >> Yeah. If you walk to that front fender, I can get you some medical attention. I'm asking for two or three steps. When Holberg appeared to move back toward [music] the house, the K9 team quickly subdued him and safely took him into custody without further danger. >> JUST TO THE FENDER, STOP, CARL. STOP. STOP. >> GO GET HIM. GET HIM. >> Get him. >> COME. COME. >> Hold on. Bronco. Hey, come here, buddy. Somebody cover the house. >> No. Carl, put your hands behind your back. >> Good. >> Put your hands behind your back. Nearly 4 hours after the shooting began, Homeberg was arrested and taken to the hospital to treat the gunshot wound to his leg. >> Get to your knees. Sit up, Carl. >> Stand up. During the search of the home, investigators said they seized a rifle, a shotgun, a handgun, and one of the officer's firearms along with methamphetamine and tools associated with packaging [music] and selling drugs. >> Hi, Carl. Me again. >> Hi, Carl. >> This is my partner, Agent Sam McInness. I told you he'd love to visit with you if you if you're willing. >> How you doing, Carl? I'm not doing very too well. >> Yeah. Got some pain. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Little disturbed. >> Yeah. Absolutely. I can understand that with what you've been through. Yep. >> My We can get into that a little bit too, I think. So, >> we're going to get into that a little bit. >> At the hospital, investigators approached Holberg, reintroduced themselves, and asked whether he was willing to cooperate. Holberg said he was in pain, emotionally unstable, and angry about what had happened. From the start, he framed the incident as an illegal intrusion, and claimed police fired first. According to Holberg, he heard police knocking and announcing they had a search warrant. He begged them not to break in, saying they had no reason to be there and claimed they kicked in the door and tried to breach the bedroom door. He repeatedly insisted, "They shot first. I didn't shoot until they shot. I was scared for my life. When asked what he fired, he said it was a 223 rifle. He repeatedly asked whether he had killed anyone. When told he had not, he seemed relieved and said, "Thank God." Holberg maintained he never intended to kill anyone and did not want a confrontation with police. He said the police response was too large and too heavily equipped for only two people in the house. He claimed he was shot in the foot before he fired back and described other injuries, including being bitten by a police dog, being hit with a beanag round while unarmed, and suffering a broken rib near the kidney area. He acknowledged owning multiple guns, said his firearm rights had been restored, and stated the rifle was kept next to his bed. The interview ended in desperation. Holberg said he believed he would go to prison and even said he wished police had killed him so he wouldn't have to face the consequences. According to the complaint, a total of five task force members were hit. One officer was shot in the chest and hip. Two were wounded in the arm and two rounds struck body armor without causing injury. One officer chose to leave the profession after being injured, while the other officers returned to duty. On October 31st, 2025, Carl Thomas Holberg was charged with more than a dozen felony counts, including seven counts of attempted first-degree murder against police officers. Benton County Judge Robert Ralph sentenced Homeberg to 76 and 12 years in prison with credit for 751 days already served. He will serve his sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility, St. Cloud. Given the length of the sentence and his current age, it is almost certain that he will never return to the community. Sherburn County Sheriff Joel Brought said the verdict sends a clear message that this kind of reckless violence will not be tolerated. He added, "This incident shows the dangers law enforcement officers face every day. We are incredibly fortunate the injuries to these brave officers were not more severe. The incident serves as a clear warning. Armed resistance against law enforcement, whether driven by fear or a distorted perception of reality, will almost certainly result in irreversible legal consequences. Any disputes over the legality of a search warrant must be resolved within the judicial system, not through violence at the scene.