Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar has determined that Saint Paul Police Department officers were justified in the fatal shooting of Seantrell Tyreese Murdock on September 26, 2024. Hocevar's statement on Friday supported by a Scott County official announcement, outlined the circumstances leading to the decision that the use of force was deemed necessary "to protect these officers from death or great bodily harm." The announcement brings to a close the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that took place in Belle Plaine, Minnesota.
According to the facts contained within the investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and cited by Hocevar, Murdock was being apprehended for an alleged "assassination-style murder" that had occurred the day before the encounter. Murdock's refusal to comply with officers' commands, and his possession, and brandishing of a firearm raised the threat level to a point where the officers feared imminent danger to themselves and potentially others.
The Scott County Attorney's decision takes into full account the suspect's known criminal history and the described severity of the murder he was suspected of committing. "The premature loss of life is always a tragedy, in this situation the officers acted both reasonably and responsibly," said Hocevar, according to the official statement from Scott County. This decision aligns with Minnesota statutes authorizing the use of deadly force when necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to officers or others.
Furthermore, as Hocevar elaborated in a letter to the BCA, officers were faced with an individual whose actions went beyond mere resistance. Murdock's approach towards the officers while armed, despite clear instructions, presented a "clear and present danger." The officers, knowing the gravity of the crime associated with the individual they were approaching, saw the situation escalate rapidly to a point where deadly force became their only viable option to ensure their safety and that of the vicinity.
