First-degree murder charges in Deputy Dewey's death
The man accused of shooting Mahnomen County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Dewey -- who died last month of his injuries -- is now charged with first-degree murder.
A grand jury returned the indictment against 34-year-old Thomas Lee Fairbanks late Thursday, Attorney General Lori Swanson said Friday. Fairbanks had previously been charged with second-degree murder.
"The murder of an officer is an offense against every citizen of this state, and this indictment reflects that," Swanson said in a statement.
Fairbanks faces 12 other counts, including assault on several law enforcement officers and attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
Dewey was shot in the head and stomach in February 2009 while checking out a report of shots fired in a Mahnomen neighborhood. He never fully recovered and died Aug. 9, at the age of 27.
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