St. Paul police say man shot dead by officers had loaded gun
Updated: 6:55 a.m. Jan. 16 | Posted 7:06 p.m. Jan. 15
St. Paul police say investigators found a loaded handgun "within immediate reach" of Marcus Ryan Golden after two officers shot and killed him early Wednesday.
Police have identified the officers who fired the shots that killed Golden.
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Officers Jeremy Doverspike, a seven-year veteran, and Dan Peck, who has been with the department for nearly two years, feared for their lives as Golden "accelerated" his SUV in their direction after the officers left their squad car, according to police spokesman Sgt. Paul Paulos.
Doverspike and Peck were called to 261 E. University Ave. at 2:14 a.m. Wednesday on a report of a man sending death threats from a mobile phone, according to police. While on the way to the scene, officers were told the suspect "was known to possess and carry a gun," according to a statement from the St. Paul PD.
The two officers tried to talk him out of his SUV, but he refused.
"At one point in time, they told him to turn off the truck, he refused. The whole time this was a conversation. And also this tells you that he knew they were the police. They were in full uniform, they were with a marked squad car with lights," Paulos said.
The officers fired their handguns "several times." Golden was pronounced dead at the scene.
Doverspike and Peck are on administrative leave.