By Police1 Staff
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Police released video of an accidental shooting after a pursuit, FOX 9 reported.
Eden Prairie Sergeant Lonnie Soppeland had been pursuing then 21-year-old Matthew Hovland-Knase at speeds reaching 110 miles per hour on June 20, 2015. Eventually, Hovland-Knase pulled over to the side of the road and Soppeland jumped out of his cruiser with his gun drawn.
Soppeland commanded Hovland-Knase to raise his hands before accidentally firing. Hovland-Knase yelled, “I’m bleeding.”
Soppeland immediately administered aid and apologised to the suspect.
In the dash cam video, the two exchange words and acknowledged the shooting was not intentional.
Soppeland later told a detective during the investigation of the incident, “I drew my firearm with my right hand, I planned to steady it with my left hand. When my hands made contact, the firearm discharged once unintentionally. It was not my conscious choice.”
The detective asked if firearms training 20 days prior when Soppeland fired 50 to 100 rounds was a factor. Soppeland said it was.
“I feel the muscle memory from that recent training of squeezing the trigger contributed to the unintentional discharge during a high stress situation,” Soppeland said in the report.
Several firearms experts told the news site they had never heard of accidental shootings blamed on muscle memory but thought the stress of a pursuit could have been a factor.
“I’m not going to second guess the officer, but generally speaking, until you’re ready to fire, your finger is alongside the slide or frame of the gun,” law enforcement firearms trainer John Caile told the news site.
Hovland-Knase was convicted of fleeing an officer last year. Soppeland is an 11-year veteran of the department.
A statement released by the police said based on the findings of the investigation, no further disciplinary action was taken.