BCA: Man shot dead by Hastings police was suspect in stabbing

The man shot to death by police in Hastings had stabbed someone earlier in the day at a group home, according to investigators.

The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. Monday, when the suspect was spotted walking in the 1500 block of Walnut Street, according to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

"At one point during the encounter, an officer discharged their firearm, striking the man," a BCA statement read. The man died at the scene.

The stabbing victim suffered a small puncture wound to a leg and declined medical attention, according to emergency dispatch audio at the scene.

The BCA said its investigation is in the early stages and that more information will be made available, including the names of the officers, once initial interviews are done. The officers were equipped with body-worn cameras, and their squad cars also had dash-mounted cameras.

His family confirmed in a Facebook message that the suspect was 23-year-old Keagan Johnson-Lloyd.

His mother, Tanya Johnson, told KARE 11 that she spoke with police after the stabbing and told them he had been convicted of spitting at officers.

"That's when I said, you know, Keagan has been known to spit at officers so you're going to want to address him calmly and talk him down. I don't want him spitting at anybody or whatever and getting an assault charge or anything," Johnson told KARE 11.

Authorities have not yet disclosed what danger he posed to officers.

The events leading to the shooting were set in motion when Hastings police began investigating a stabbing at a group home about 3:40 p.m., the BCA said.

Emergency dispatch audio placed the group home in the 1200 block of Sibley Street, home to the nonprofit Spirit Recovery Center, which helps people battling alcoholism and other difficulties.

The suspect, described by officers on the call as being in his early 20s, donned a black jacket while police tracked him walking along various streets, according to dispatch audio leading up to the gunfire.

"Mom says he's been assaultive to officers before, as in spitting on them," one officer said in an emergency dispatch.

"Shots fired! Shots fired!" one officer screamed at 6:19 p.m., the audio revealed.

Moments later, an officer reported that the man suffered a gunshot wound to the head and soon after lacked a pulse.

Hastings police are investigating the stabbing. They declined to release details from either incident.