​ST. PAUL – The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man who died Nov. 30 during a standoff with Rochester police. William Lee Carter, 34, of Rochester, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner.

Carter made several phone calls early in the day Nov. 30 threatening to hurt himself and others, according to the preliminary investigation by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Police located Carter in his vehicle parked outside of a strip mall. A lengthy standoff began, during which police tried to negotiate with Carter. After hearing a shot from inside the vehicle, officers deployed various less-than-lethal rounds in an attempt to get him to leave the vehicle. Carter fired a handgun at officers several times, striking a police vehicle. Officers heard another shot from inside Carter’s vehicle, where he was later found dead. At no time did a police officer fire their service weapon.

Crime scene personnel recovered a handgun from inside Carter’s vehicle​. This incident was captured on numerous cameras, including body-worn, squad and surveillance cameras from the nearby businesses. BCA agents are reviewing that footage as part of the ongoing investigation. 

The Rochester Police Department asked the BCA to investigate this incident. Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office for review.