BCA Identifies Those Connected to Officer Involved Shooting in St. Paul

(KNSI) – Officials are releasing the name of a man shot and killed by police after allegedly trying to carjack a woman in St. Paul.

According to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, 24-year-old Howard Peter Johnson died on December 5th from gunshot wounds. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the St. Paul police officer as a sergeant with ten years in law enforcement. He is on standard administrative leave.

According to investigators, St. Paul police responded to the area around Earl Street and Hudson Road just after 6:00 p.m. on Monday on reports of a domestic assault. The caller said Johnson had a gun. As officers formed a perimeter, a woman left a business in the area and got into her car. She told BCA agents that as she started to pull away, Johnson approached her vehicle and pointed a gun at her.

The two St. Paul police officers were parked in a squad car nearby as part of the perimeter. Surveillance video shows the squad car striking Johnson in the back and side. The squad car pushed Johnson past and behind the other vehicle, knocking him to the ground. Police say Johnson got up and exchanged gunfire with the officer. Johnson was hit and later died.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a .45 caliber Glock Pistol with three bullet casings at the scene. They also recovered ten 9-millimeter cartridge casings, consistent with the St. Paul Police department handgun assigned to the officer.

The BCA says surveillance, body camera and squad camera footage captured parts of the incident. The BCA will review and release the video once the case is closed.

The attorneys for the officers involved have informed the BCA that they will provide written statements in the coming days.

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