Authorities: Man was killed after pointing handgun at officers
The man who was shot and killed Thursday by authorities following a high-speed chase through the Twin Cities pointed a handgun at officers, the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Friday.
The man was identified Friday as 28-year-old Jason Peter Barsness. The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Anoka County said Barsness died of multiple gunshot wounds.
According to authorities and Red & White Taxi Company, Barsness got into a cab in south Minneapolis before threatening the driver in or near the Lowry Hill Tunnel on Interstate 94. Barsness then took off in the cab and led authorities on a 40-minute chase that reached speeds of 100 mph.
Authorities used spike strips to stop Barsness on Interstate 35E north of the Twin Cities, just south of the I-35E/I-35W split. Officers then confronted Barsness and fired their weapons, the BCA said. Investigators have not said whether Barsness fired the handgun that he allegedly pointed at the officers.
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The BCA on Friday also identified the two State Patrol troopers and a Minneapolis police officer who fired their weapons in the incident:
• Trooper Jared Sturgill, three years with the State Patrol
• Trooper Andrew Wayne Gibbs, two years with the State Patrol
• Officer Paul Dellwo, two years with the Minneapolis Police Department
• Officer Michael Curtis Ploumen, 10 years with the Brooklyn Park Police Department
• Officer Adam Daniel Moen, five years with the Brooklyn Park Police Department
State trooper Gerald Ladwig and Minneapolis police officers Daniel Ledman and Chris Smith witnessed the incident and are also on administrative leave, investigators said.
The incident remains under investigation by the BCA.