Man accused of opening fire in Minneapolis apartment building faces charges

MINNEAPOLIS — A man who allegedly opened fire inside a Minneapolis apartment building early Saturday, Sept. 7, is facing assault charges.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged 40-year-old Nathan Mellstrom Matz with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Police evacuated residents of the apartment near 40th Street and Minnehaha Avenue after several people reported that a man was firing an AK-47 rifle inside and outside of the building.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Ben Bauer shot and wounded Matz and disarmed him. Matz is hospitalized and expected to survive.

No one else was injured, but several residents had close calls.

Prosecutors said one person awoke to gunfire and found bullet holes in his floor around him. Another stepped out of his apartment and spotted Matz holding a gun. Investigators allegedly found a bullet hole near where the resident had been standing.

Bullets also struck a house across the street.

Matz has lived in the building since 2014, according to an eviction filing submitted by the building’s property management company Monday.

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