WILLISTON, ND ( KXNET ) — After a lengthy investigation, a Williston police officer has been reinstated following a fatal officer-involved shooting in July.

According to the Williston Police Department, at approximately 12:47 p.m. on July 23, officers responded to a call near the 1300 Block of 18th Street West concerning an individual armed with a knife. The caller stated that a man was outside an apartment complex jabbing a knife at his own heart and others.

Officer Jason Barten was the first to arrive on the scene at 12:51 p.m., and quickly located an individual matching the subject’s description — 31-year-old Matthew Austin Gullo — who was clutching a visible knife.

Barten drew his weapon while ordering Gullo to put the knife down and stay where he was, and even warned him that he would be shot, but the man continued to approach with the knife in his left hand and his right hand concealed behind his body. This led to Barten discharging his firearm and striking Gullo.

Following this gunfire, a second responding officer used a less-lethal launcher to dislodge the knife, but Gullo continued to hold on to it. Officers approached, manually removed the knife from Gullo’s hand, and began administering life-saving emergency measures before being transported to a local hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries.

Further investigation into the case revealed that Gullo himself called in the initial police report, and described his actions as if he was an uninvolved bystander.

Shortly after the incident, a comprehensive internal investigation was conducted by the Williston Police Department to assess their compliance with departmental policies and procedures. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation was also asked to review the incident independently.

As standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting, Barten was placed on paid leave pending the case’s outcome.

Following a review by an external prosecutor, the Divide County State Attorney found that Barten’s conduct was justified — further stating that he had complied with local laws and department policies regarding the use of deadly force. Barten has been reinstated to full duty without restrictions.

The Williston Police Department will not publicly share dashcam or bodycam videos of the event, but the footage in question has been released to outside sources required by law. No additional information is available at this time.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Today's Top Stories

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KX NEWS.