Family of hostage killed by police sues

Published 9:33 am Monday, August 24, 2015

WOODBURY — A lawsuit has been filed against the city of Woodbury and three officers by the family of a man mistakenly shot to death by police during a hostage situation in 2012.

According to the press release, the lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court by the family of 19-year-old Mark Henderson of St. Paul.

Henderson tried to escape a Woodbury motel room where people were being held. He was shot by officers, who believed he was armed.

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A grand jury opted not to indict the three officers involved in 2013.

Demetrius Ballinger of Stillwater was sentenced to 36 years in prison in 2013 for attempted murder and sexually assaulting four teenage girls during the hostage situation.

A Woodbury public safety department spokeswoman said that officials hadn’t received the lawsuit and couldn’t comment.