Officers Fatally Shoot Suspect Following Carjacking In Chisago County
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A carjacking incident Monday morning in central Minnesota ended in a fatal officer-involved shooting.
It all started when a man stole a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala in North Branch. He later crashed the car through a fence and ended up 15 miles away in a field.
That's when officers from several law enforcement agencies responded and the man was fatally shot. His 7-year-old daughter, who was in the car, saw it all unfold.
North Branch Police Chief Dan Meyer said it was around 7:40 a.m. when the carjacking happened on the city's south side. The man, who was armed with a handgun, hijacked the car from a woman heading to work.
The man sped off, prompting a search through the town. At one point, the suspect drove through a fence and onto Interstate 35.
Two hours later, he called authorities through OnStar, making suicidal threats and asking for someone to pick up his daughter.
Officers found the car mired in a muddy bean field, about 7 miles north of town.
Officers say the child was still in the car when the suspect engaged a state trooper and two deputies. Officers fired, striking him dead.
The girl was unharmed.
The man's identity is being withheld pending family notification.
Authorities say he is not from the area and are not sure why he was in North Branch.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating what prompted the use of deadly force. It's unclear as to whether the man fired first or pointed his gun at officers.
The deputies involved in the shooting are on administrative leave, as is standard procedure.