Dawn Marie Pfister was a 34-year-old "free spirit" and the mother of two young children from Elkhorn, Wis.
Her boyfriend Matthew Vincent Serbus once lived in St. Paul and had a long criminal record for theft, robbery and drugs.
Now, Pfister's family and friends are searching for answers about how and why the couple died of gunshot wounds after leading police on a high-speed chase on Hwy. 212 from Chaska to Eden Prairie on Friday morning.
The Hennepin County medical examiner's office identified the two Saturday.
Officials have not released many details about the incident or explained what prompted police to open fire. The shots came after the couple's Saab crashed into a wall and they appeared to be fleeing the scene.
The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating the incident, will not release details until all witnesses and law enforcement officers involved are interviewed, spokeswoman Jill Oliveira said Saturday.
Four officers — one from the State Patrol, two from Chaska police and one from Carver County — were placed on standard administrative leave pending the investigation.
Family, friends mourn
Bridget Johnson, Pfister's stepmother, said the family was stunned by her loss.