St. Louis Co. Attorney Finds Officer's Use of Gun Justified in Shooting Incident

DULUTH, Minn. - The St. Louis County Attorney's Office has reviewed the BCA and Duluth Police Department investigative reports regarding the non-fatal officer involved shooting incident of August 11, 2014, in Duluth, Minnesota.

On August 11, 2014, at 3:49 a.m., the Duluth Police Department was dispatched to 3202 Piedmont Avenue to investigate a domestic disturbance of undetermined nature.

Upon arriving, more information was revealed and officers learned that the suspect was in the home, armed with a knife, was threatening to kill himself and had run into the basement and ultimately into a room in an attached garage.

Officers followed.

The suspect refused to come out.

He indicated he wanted to take his own life and wanted the officers to leave.

Officers could see blood pooling from the other side of the closed door.

Concerned for the suspect's life, the door was forced open. Officers entered.

Falling on to the ground, the suspect refused to drop a knife he was holding as the officers approached.

Despite demands to release the knife, he brought the knife upwards towards the officers.

Fearing for his safety, the safety of others, and his canine that was present, Officer Marc Johnson fired two non-fatal shots, striking the suspect's upper body, resulting in the suspect being subdued and ultimately taken in for medical attention.

Now, St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin has sent a letter to law enforcement supporting the conclusions that under the particular facts of the case and the law of self-defense, Officer Marc Johnson was justified in his decision to use deadly force.

This will be the extent of the information released by the County Attorney's Office at this time.