Man faces 27 counts in Woodbury motel standoff

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man who police say held several people hostage during a four-hour standoff at a Woodbury motel faces 27 charges, including attempted murder and sexual assault.

Twenty-five-year-old Demetrius Santreell Ballinger of Maplewood was charged Tuesday in Washington County.

The complaint says Ballinger was in a room at the Red Roof Inn early Friday with five adults and six juveniles. At one point, he pulled out a gun, threatened to shoot everyone and ordered them to give him money and cellphones.

The complaint says Ballinger shot at one man who tried to leave. Nineteen-year-old Mark Henderson was fatally shot by police, who say they believed he had a weapon.

Ballinger is also accused of sexually assaulting four underage girls in the room before surrendering.

Court records did not immediately show an attorney for Ballinger.

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