DULUTH, Minn. — Body and dashboard camera footage released by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office shows the moments leading up to a fatal confrontation between deputies and a man accused of setting multiple fires and threatening neighbors, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
The 20-minute video shows the July 15 incident from the perspective of five deputies who fired their weapons at the suspect. The confrontation took place in a rural area between Duluth and Two Harbors.
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According to authorities, the suspect had set booby traps around his property, sprayed gasoline on a neighbor, ignited three homes, including his own, and was suspected of firing at a responding firefighter and a Duluth Township police officer before deputies arrived, the Duluth News Tribune reported.
When deputies arrived on scene, they encountered active fires and a tipped-over but still-running lawn mower. A Normanna Township firefighter was able to extinguish the fires at the neighboring homes.
During this effort, the firefighter reported hearing gunfire and believed he was being shot at, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Moments later, the suspect emerged from the woods carrying a weapon.
“Male! Male! Male!” one St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputy is heard shouting in the footage. As the suspect turns to face deputies, the muzzle of his weapon flashes and officers open fire, including one deputy who fired through his windshield. The suspect fell to the ground, and deputies called for a ceasefire.
Despite efforts to administer aid, the suspect died at the scene. Authorities said he was in possession of homemade devices that appeared intended to fire projectiles at first responders.
Court records show the man had a history of conflict with his neighbors, including multiple harassment complaints. He was convicted of a misdemeanor in one case and had two open cases at the time of his death.
The suspect’s own home burned to the ground, while the other two fires were extinguished.
