Man fatally shot by sheriff's deputies in Duluth believed to be suspect in earlier homicide
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Authorities in Duluth say they believe a man fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday night was the suspect in another fatal shooting in the city earlier in the day.
The first shooting, in which a 33-year-old Duluth man was shot and killed in his vehicle, happened at about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday on Piedmont Avenue near West Fourth Street. Duluth police are investigating.
About six hours later and five miles to the southwest, St. Louis County sheriff’s deputies exchanged gunfire with a man following an attempted traffic stop. The man died at the scene; no one else was physically injured. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating that shooting.
“We have reason to believe that the homicide and the St. Louis County sheriff’s deputy-involved shooting that occurred later Tuesday evening are related,” Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. “We are awaiting further analysis from the BCA to confirm this.”
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The name of the man fatally shot by deputies has not been released.
The man who died in the shooting earlier Tuesday was identified by Duluth police as Darius Handy. Ceynowa said Handy was driving at the time he was shot, by someone in a second vehicle. He said Handy and the suspect knew each other, but authorities have not said more about a possible motive.
Ceynowa said the suspect in that shooting was driving a different vehicle when a sheriff's deputy tried to pull him over for reckless driving on Grand Avenue near 58th Avenue West at about 9:40 p.m. Tuesday. Ramsay said the deputy was not aware the man was a possible homicide suspect.
Ramsay said the man fled, and another deputy eventually used a PIT maneuver, causing the vehicle to spin out — after which the man in the car reportedly exchanged gunfire with the two deputies.
Investigators recovered a handgun from the man’s vehicle. Ramsay said the man was prohibited from possessing guns due to previous felony convictions.
Ramsay said there is body camera and squad camera footage of the incident. The deputies involved are on standard leave.
