Wright County Attorney announces findings on fatal St. Michael shooting

(Editor’s note: The following is a press release from Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes)

I have concluded my review of the officer-involved shooting incident that occurred March 2 in St. Michael that resulted in the death of a 67-year-old male.

The incident was investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Force Investigation Unit led by Senior Special Agent Sean Mooney. Upon my review of the investigative materials, I have determined the use of deadly force by Deputy Austin Feenstra was authorized and justified pursuant to Minn. Stat. §609.066, Subd. 2.

Based on the totality of circumstances known to Feenstra at the time he used deadly force, an objectively reasonable officer would have believed deadly force was necessary to protect Feenstra from death or great bodily harm. The need to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm was articulated with specificity by Feenstra and by Mooney in his review and thorough summary of the squad video.

Absent the use of deadly force, the deputy was in immediate risk of being killed or greatly harmed by the male who was about to stab him with an object Feenstra reasonably believed to be a knife. The item reasonably believed by Feenstra to be a knife was a metal rod approximately nine inches in length that was being used as a weapon by the male.

The male was within five feet of Feenstra, lunging towards him with a weapon intending to stab him. The male’s behavior placed the deputy in a position where he had no choice other than using deadly force.

No criminal charges will be filed as the use of deadly force by Feenstra was authorized and justified statutorily based upon the circumstances of this incident.