An ax-wielding robbery suspect was shot and killed after charging a police officer early Saturday in Rochester, authorities said.
Rochester police shoot ax-wielding suspect
Police said the man charged at an officer with the weapon. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.
July 30, 2022 at 8:42PM
City police said a man carrying an ax had fled after robbing a business on Broadway Avenue South about 11 p.m. Friday. When police stopped the suspect's van about two hours later on Hwy. 63 just south of the Hwy. 52 overpass, he got out of the vehicle, charged the officer and was shot.
Police said the man died after attempts to save him failed.
According to a city statement, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) will investigate the incident, which is standard in the case of fatal shootings by officers.
BCA spokeswoman Bonney Bowman said the officer was not injured and has been placed on administrative leave. She said the names of the officer and suspect will be released Monday.
"It's important to note the BCA does not determine whether an officer-involved shooting was justified. Our agents will investigate the incident, then present their findings to a prosecutor — in this case, most likely the county attorney," Bowman said. "That prosecutorial agency will decide whether to file charges."
City data show that Rochester Police Department officers showed or used force 178 times in 2021 and 54 times this year.
The officer has worked at the Police Department for just over a year and previously was an officer at another agency, according to the city.
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