VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. - The use of force in a fatal officer-involved shooting in Vadnais Heights last year has been deemed justified, according to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.
Forty-seven-year-old Darren Jahnke was shot and killed last April after a struggle ensued with officers in a parked recreational vehicle.
According to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office, the investigation revealed one of the officers involved in the incident was "fighting for her life" after being taken down and disarmed by Jahnke. Physical evidence including injuries to the officer, a damaged and separated holster and Jahnke's DNA on the gun backed up eyewitness statements, as well as the statements from officers involved.
According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's investigation, four deputies entered the RV on April 16, 2017 and tried to identify Jahnke but a struggle ensued during which two deputies deployed their Tasers. But the Tasers were ineffective.
During the struggle, after Jahnke disarmed one of the deputies, another deputy fired his weapon, striking Jahnke. He was taken by ambulance to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he later died. None of the deputies were injured.
The Ramsey County Attorney's Office released its determination on Thursday, March 15, 2018.
In September, an audio recording that captured the shooting was discovered to not have been included with the investigative file. The case review was reopened on Sept. 20, but the Ramsey County Attorney's Office determined that the recording did not contain any information that would change the determination.
