On or about March 8, 2026, at approximately 11:10 A.M., officers responded to a report of threats from a home on the 6000 block of Brooklyn Drive in Brooklyn Center, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The reporting party (“Witness 1” herein) stated that DAMON GEROD STERZINGER (“Defendant” herein), was threatening people with a firearm. Officers arrived on scene and spoke with Witness 1 and her mother (“Witness 2” herein). Witnesses 1 and 2 were inside Witness 2’s home at the time officers arrived. Defendant was inside of his home, which is next door to Witness 2’s home.
Witness 2 told officers that Defendant is her son. Witnesses 1 and 2 told officers that they were at Witness 2’s home cleaning it out in order to get ready to sell the home. While they were cleaning, Defendant came to the home and approached them around 11:00 A.M. Witnesses 1 and 2 asked Defendant to leave. Witnesses 1 and 2 thought Defendant was intoxicated when he walked up to the home. Witnesses 1 and 2 had ongoing issues with Defendant being aggressive towards them. Witnesses 1 and 2 told officers that Defendant had previously made comments about how he deserved to inherit Witness 2’s home, and Defendant said something to the effect of, “If I don’t inherit all of this, I’m going to blow all of your guys away.” Witness 2 also mentioned that she knew Defendant had multiple firearms in his home.
Based on Defendant’s prior statements and Witness 2’s knowledge of Defendant’s access to firearms, Witnesses 1 and 2 were fearful when Defendant walked up to Witness 2’s home. This caused them to ask Defendant to leave, but Defendant said, “I don’t have to walk away.” When Defendant said this, Witnesses 1 and 2 went inside. Witness 1 called 911. A third witness (“Witness 3” herein) and her juvenile son (“Victim” herein) were also at Witness 2’s home when Defendant came over. Witness 3 told officers that she and Victim were at Witness 2’s home helping to clean out the garage.
While cleaning, Witness 3 and Victim saw Defendant walk up to the home. Witness 3 said Defendant was becoming verbally aggressive with Witnesses 1 and 2, but then he turned his attention to Victim. Witness 3 saw Defendant walk towards Victim, “eyeing him up.” Witness 3 told Defendant to “back off and walk away,” but Defendant did not listen. Witness 3 told Defendant that Victim was just a child, [NAME REDACTED] said something to the effect of, “When I was his age, I killed people in war.” Witness 3 then saw what she thought was the handle of a firearm in Defendant’s back pocket.
Witness 3 stated Defendant continued to posture and walk towards Victim [NAME REDACTED] onto the handle of the firearm. Victim [NAME REDACTED] had been verbally aggressive, and Defendant was fixated on Victim. Victim said Defendant kept “glaring” at him and making comments about killing people. Victim saw the handle of a handgun in Defendant’s back pocket, and Victim was fearful that Defendant might hurt him or shoot him because Defendant’s hand was on the handle of the firearm. Both Victim and Witness 3 described the handle of the firearm as black and “almost burnt orange” or reddish in color.