First-degree murder charges in Deputy Dewey's death
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
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.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
