BCA: Undercover Officer Fatally Shot Suspect in Recent Minnesota Police Shooting

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Minnesota BCA has released more information regarding a recent fatal police shooting. 

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The deadly incident occurred on Jan. 9 in northwest Minnesota’s Polk County at a rural residence across the Red River from southern Grand Forks, ND. The suspect was taken to a hospital where he died. 

On Friday the BCA issued a news release that identified the slain suspect as 42-year-old Lucas Paul Gilbertson of East Grand Forks. The BCA says the officer who fatally shot Gilbertson will not be identified because he is undercover and his identity is protected by state law. 

The preliminary investigation indicates members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Pine to Prairie Drug and Violent Crime taskforce went to the home to arrest Gilbertson, who had an active arrest warrant, after learning he was at the residence. 

Authorities had the home surrounded and at one point the undercover officer went into the residence with Gilbertson. At some point during the encounter, Gilbertson had broken out a window and threw a handgun outside of the home that was later recovered by law enforcement, the news release says. 

The officer fired his taser and handgun, striking Gilbertson multiple times during the same interaction. Authorities rendered aid to Gilbertson until he was able to be transported to a hospital where he died of his wounds, according to the news release. 

The exact timeline of the encounter is still under investigation, the BCA says. The officer has been placed on standard administrative leave. 

Officials say body-worn cameras and squad car cameras were activated at the scene, however footage of the shooting is not available because the undercover officer was not wearing a camera. 

The BCA is reviewing the footage as the investigation into the fatal incident continues. Upon completion agents will present their findings to the Polk County Attorney’s Office without a charging recommendation. 

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