BOWLUS, Minn. — An independent investigation is underway after one person was fatally shot and another wounded by law enforcement during an attempted traffic stop in Morrison County Thursday night.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) shared details of the incident, which happened just before 6 p.m. near the community of Bowlus. A release from the BCA says members of the West Central Drug task force were attempting a traffic stop on a vehicle when a Minnesota State Trooper and an Otter Tail County deputy both discharged their firearms.
Law enforcement officials say a man inside the vehicle involved in the traffic stop, described only as a "white male," was fatally shot while another person was wounded.
The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim on May 2 as 59-year-old Charles Francis Bangs of Fergus Falls and ruled he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The BCA added that the other man injured was 51-year-old Michael Gene Johnson of Fergus Falls. The two officers who fired their guns are now on administrative leave and were identified as Trooper Megan Boser and Deputy Dale Haberer. Both fired their department-issued handguns.
The BCA provided no details about the events that led to the shooting or the alleged actions of those who were shot. The release did say that a handgun was recovered at the scene, and that the State Trooper involved was wearing a body camera that captured at least parts of the incident on video.
Bowlus is located in Morrison County in central Minnesota, about 13 miles south of Little Falls.
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is gathered.
