Wright County attorney: Deputy was justified in fatal shooting

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes has concluded his findings into a fatal officer-involved shooting in neighboring St. Michael back in March.

Lutes determined the use of deadly force by a deputy with the Wright County Sheriff’s Office was justified during a traffic stop early in the morning of March 2 on Ivory Avenue NE in St. Michael.

During the incident, 67-year-old driver Jeffrey Lynn Chapman, of Albertville, died after being shot by Deputy Austin Feenstra after brandishing what appeared to be a weapon, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

Feenstra was attempting to pull Chapman over for allegedly driving erratically at about 4:30 a.m.

When Chapman eventually stopped after driving two more blocks, according to the BCA, he got out of his car and walked toward Feenstra holding what the deputy believed was a knife.

The weapon turned out to be a 9-inch metal rod. Feenstra fired his handgun, and Chapman died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds.

“Upon my review of the investigative materials, I have determined the use of deadly force by Deputy Austin Feenstra was authorized and justified,” Lutes said.

Lutes went on to share findings from squad camera footage, which showed Chapman “was about to stab him with an object Deputy Feenstra reasonably believed to be a knife.”

Lutes said Chapman’s behavior “placed Deputy Feenstra in a position where he had no choice other than using deadly force.” Chapman was within five feet of Feenstra, “lunging towards him with a weapon intending to stab him,” Lutes said.

The case was investigated by the BCA’s Force Investigation Unit, led by Senior Special Agent Sean Mooney.

No criminal charges will be filed in the case.