UPDATE June 9, 2021
ST. PAUL — Officers from six law enforcement agencies were working as part of the U.S. Marshals North Star Fugitive Task Force on June 3 when an officer involved shooting took place in Minneapolis. Officers from the Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey County sheriff’s offices; the Minnesota Department of Corrections; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the U.S. Marshals Service were present during the incident.
The Hennepin and Ramsey County deputies on the task force discharged their firearms during the incident. Both agencies have notified the BCA that their deputies were working in an undercover capacity at the time. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is prohibited from releasing the identities of undercover officers under Minn. Stat. 13.82, subd. 17 (a).
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday identified the man who died as Winston Boogie Smith, Jr., of St. Paul. The medical examiner said Mr. Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The BCA is not aware of any video of the incident. The BCA is asking for anyone who captured video of the incident to contact the BCA at 651-793-7000.
This is an active and ongoing investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation to the appropriate prosecutor for review.
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ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating an officer involved shooting incident that occurred on Thursday, June 3, on the top level of a parking ramp at 1405 W. Lake Street in the Uptown area of Minneapolis.
Law enforcement serving on the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were alerted to the whereabouts of man who had a warrant for a felony firearms violation. They made contact with him in an attempt to take him into custody.
According to the preliminary investigation, at one point a Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy and a Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy serving on the task force discharged their weapons, striking the man. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Evidence at the scene indicates that the man fired his weapon from inside the vehicle. BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun as well as spent cartridge cases from inside the driver’s compartment.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the man once the preliminary autopsy, formal identification and family notifications have taken place.
A 27-year-old female passenger in the vehicle was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment of glass injuries sustained during the incident and released.
The BCA is in the very early stages of its investigation. The BCA will provide additional information as the investigation progresses.
The U.S Marshal Service currently does not allow the use of body cameras for officers serving on its North Star Fugitive Task Force. There is no squad camera footage of the incident.
Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation to the appropriate prosecutor for review
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