The recent use-of-force incident in Crookston, Minnesota, has taken a new turn with the identification of the officer who discharged his firearm. Officer Sean Murphy of the Crookston Police Department, a veteran with 14 years on the force, was placed on standard critical incident leave following the April 7 confrontation,
In an unfolding story, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) provided details of the encounter, which involved Officer Murphy shooting 34-year-old Caleb Coffey, a man from Oklahoma. Coffey, after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, was released from Altru Hospital and is now in custody at the Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston.
According to a news release from the BCA, the series of events that led to the shooting began when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers initiated a vehicle pursuit at North Dakota's Pembina Port of Entry. The pursuit saw Coffey's vehicle flee multiple law enforcement agencies, eventually leading them through Marshall County and into Polk County via Highway 75, before law enforcement managed to stop Coffey's vehicle near Crookston.
The confrontation escalated when Coffey exited his car, brandishing a handgun. Officer Murphy responded by discharging his weapon, consequently striking Coffey. The police, in the ensuing moments, provided medical assistance until paramedics could transport the injured man to the hospital. Authorities confirmed that Coffey was the sole occupant of the vehicle and that no officers were injured during the incident.
The ongoing investigation by the BCA is reviewing body cam and squad camera footage as part of the process. A firearm was also retrieved from the scene. Once complete, the BCA will forward its investigative findings to the Polk County Attorney's Office for review without providing any recommendation.
