Hudson teen in protective custody

The 19-year-old son of a Hudson man shot by police close to two weeks ago has been taken into protective custody.

Zachary Christenson turned himself into St. Croix Falls police on Thursday, Oct. 29, ending a search for him that began earlier that day in Hudson.

Hudson police went to the house at 1321 St. Croix Heights where the earlier shooting took place (on Oct. 17) at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday after receiving a call asking them to check on Christenson’s welfare.

A police radio transmission indicated that the call came from a relative of Christenson’s who was worried about his welfare.

Christenson wasn’t at the house when the police arrived.

Officers said over police radio that they had found fresh blood on some glass and a door knob at the house.

The Washington County, Minn., Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin and Minnesota state patrols were notified to be on the lookout for a red pickup truck.

Shortly after, it was reported that Minnesota authorities were in pursuit of the red pickup on I-694. Christenson was said to be traveling north at a high rate of speed.

Some minutes later, a St. Croix County emergency dispatcher said Minnesota authorities had discontinued the chase in Anoka County.

Late Thursday afternoon, a law enforcement officer speaking on police radio said the St. Croix Falls Police Department had had contact with Christenson and that he was at Cumberland Hospital being held on an emergency detention.

Cumberland Memorial Hospital has a psychiatric unit where people suffering emotional disturbances are routinely taken by police for evaluation.

Zachary Christenson and his father, Daniel C. Christenson, 43, lived together at the St. Croix Heights residence until an Oct. 17 shooting spree that the elder Christenson went on.

7-hour standoff

Shortly after arriving home at his house around 5 p.m. on that Saturday, an allegedly intoxicated Daniel Christenson fired several rounds from a handgun inside his home, sometimes at his son Zachary.

When the shooting started, Zachary told three teenage friends with him in the basement of the house to hide in a closet. Using a cell phone, Zachary called 911 and stayed on the phone for approximately 20 minutes while his dad continued to fire the gun, stopping only to reload.

The four teens escaped the house by going out a basement window about an hour after the shooting started.

Daniel Christenson remained inside the house for the next six hours while the St. Croix County Emergency Response Unit tried to make contact with him but he never responded. Shortly after midnight, police fired pepper spray into the house.

Daniel Christenson first came out of the rear of the house, brandishing a gun and was shot by a deputy. He then went back into the house and then exited out the front door, again pointing his gun in the direction of police. He was shot a second time and collapsed.

He was airlifted to Regions Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Zachary is a student at Hudson High School and was completing work toward his diploma.

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