Lutes: Deadly force was justified in March 2 shooting

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes has concluded his review of the officer-involved shooting incident that occurred March 2, 2024, in St. Michael that resulted in the death of a 67-year-old male from St. Michael.

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,” Lutes stated in a press release. “Based on the totality of circumstances known to Deputy Feenstra at the time he used deadly force, an objectively reasonable officer would have believed deadly force was necessary to protect Deputy Feenstra from death or great bodily harm.”

Lutes said the need to use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm was articulated with specificity by Deputy Feenstra and by SSA Mooney in his review and thorough summary of the squad video.

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

“Deputy Feenstra had to use deadly force on the male without delay. The male was within five feet of Deputy Feenstra, lunging towards him with a weapon intending to stab him. The male’s behavior placed Deputy Feenstra in a position where he had no choice other than using deadly force.”

No criminal charges are appropriate in this case. No criminal charges will be filed as the use of deadly force by Deputy Feenstra was authorized and justified statutorily based upon the circumstances of this incident, Lutes concluded.