Police: Deputy Shoots Man To Death In North Branch
NORTH BRANCH, Minn. (WCCO) – Two officers are on paid administrative leave after a man was shot and killed by authorities in North Branch Sunday night, according to the Chisago County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said the incident happened at about 9:22 p.m. Sunday on the 38000 block of Feaski Circle. Police responded to the area on a report of a domestic disturbance. When they arrived, police learned a man was inside the residence with a gun and that he fired a shot while they were en route to the scene.
When officers arrived, the man was inside the home but his wife, sister and step-daughter had already left the residence. Officers gathered near the garage door, which was open, when the service door to the garage opened and the man emerged carrying a rifle and a shotgun.
Police said the man then confronted authorities with a gun and ignored repeated instructions to put the weapons down. After the man lowered one of the guns and aimed at police, a deputy with the Chisago County Sheriff's Office shot him. He was treated at the scene and later airlifted to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The man was later identified as 46-year-old Robert Elias Aho.
The officer that fired the shot is identified as Chisago County Sheriff's Deputy Steven Gregory Husmann. He fired two shots, striking Aho twice.
Husmann is a nine-year veteran of the Chisago County Sheriff's Office. He and the other assisting officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is protocol.
The incident is still under investigation.
