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Use of force upheld in fatal Chisago Co. shooting

Seven law enforcement officers from a number of north metro departments responded on July 17, 2017 to a reported carjacking in North Branch.
Credit: SKY 11
Nearly a dozen vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies were part of the response.

CENTER CITY, Minn. - The fatal shooting of a North Carolina man in 2017 near Harris was justified, according to findings announced Friday by the Chisago County Attorney.

Seven law enforcement officers from a number of north metro departments responded on July 17, 2017 to a reported carjacking in North Branch. Gregory Shawn Thrower alerted authorities via the OnStar communications system in the stolen vehicle that he had his daughter with him, and wanted police to pick her up safely.

Aerial footage from SKY 11 showed a vehicle matching the description of the car that was stolen at gunpoint stopped in a farm field off I-35W, surrounded by crime tape. 

Squads pursued Thrower until the stolen vehicle became stuck in a soybean field in rural Harris. Officers say they saw the suspect moving away from the car with something in his hand, and then emerged from tall grass clearly holding a gun that was pointed at officers. At that point seven of the responding officers opened fire on Thrower, leaving him fatally wounded. A Ruger .40 caliber handgun was found underneath his body.

RELATED: North Carolina carjacker fatally shot by police identified

Those officers have been identified as:

  • Chisago County Sheriff's Deputy Scotty Finegan
  • Chisago County Sheriff's Deputy Tom Hanson
  • Chisago County Sheriff's Investigator Cliff Sheppeck
  • Chisago County Sheriff's Sergeant Matt Beckman
  • Chisago County Sheriff's Sergeant Jason Foster
  • Chisago County Sheriff's Sergeant Kyle Puelston
  • MN State Trooper Travis Elmer

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigated the shooting and turned findings over to Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter for review. Reiter's office determined that each officer lawfully utilized deadly force according to Minnesota law, and no criminal charges will be filed against them.

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