Details have emerged about the tragic incident in Turtle Lake Township, where 37-year-old James Weyaus of Onigum lost his life during a confrontation with law enforcement on November 16. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Cass County Deputies Kaleb Cherne, with three years in the field, and David Donner, a veteran of six years, both deployed their weapons during the fatal encounter.
The series of events unfolded when deputies responded to reports of shots fired on Old Agency Trail NW and, shortly after, encountered Weyaus who fled leading to a foot chase; the confrontation between Weyaus and Cherne escalated into an exchange of gunfire that left Cherne with a gunshot wound in the upper right leg, and in the midst of the turmoil, with Deputy Donner arriving as reinforcements, Donner fired at Weyaus ultimately leading to his death at the scene. Both deputies have since been placed on critical incident leave pending further investigation.
Among the incident's tangible pieces of evidence are a 9mm handgun, a holster, and multiple shell casings, and in the technological era's fortunate standard, body-worn cameras captured portions of the harrowing event, providing a clearer window into the actions that preceded the shooting. After receiving immediate transport via air ambulance to a Fargo hospital, Deputy Cherne has been treated and released, marking a swift chapter closure in at least one participant's narrative.
As protocols mandate in the aftermath of such confrontations, the BCA is thoroughly investigating the actions leading to the discharge of the deputies’ firearms.
