Christopher Douglas Wood, Federal Bank Vandalism with Firearm, MN 2023

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A brazen act of violence against a federal institution landed a St. Paul man in prison today. CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS WOOD, 43, was sentenced to eight months of confinement after admitting to firing a shotgun at the Federal Reserve Bank building in downtown Minneapolis. The incident, which occurred during the Aquatennial Fireworks display on July 21, 2018, caused over $40,000 in damage.

According to court documents, WOOD discharged three shotgun “slugs” at the FRB, shattering windows and damaging the building’s façade. One of those slugs didn’t just crack the glass – it pierced the triple-pane security windows and lodged itself in the ceiling of a seventh-floor office. WOOD pleaded guilty on December 17, 2018, before Chief Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court.

The location of the shooting is particularly troubling. WOOD wasn’t some random passerby; he was a United States Postal Service employee at the time. He leveraged his access to a USPS facility directly across from the FRB, and the secure parking structure within, to carry out the attack. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, it was calculated and utilized his position.

A search of WOOD’s residence following the shooting revealed a disturbing arsenal. Investigators recovered a loaded 12-gauge shotgun – presumably the same weapon used in the attack – along with a .22 semiautomatic handgun, a Snake Slayer pistol, ammunition, and documents openly critical of the Federal Reserve Bank. The evidence suggests a premeditated intent beyond simple vandalism.

The investigation was a coordinated effort by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. WOOD was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm in a federal facility.

This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly secure institutions are vulnerable to targeted attacks. While the motive remains unclear, the damage inflicted and the calculated nature of the crime are deeply concerning. WOOD’s eight-month sentence may seem lenient given the potential for harm, but it reflects the specific charges to which he pleaded guilty. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota can be reached at (612) 664-5600 for further inquiries.