MINNETONKA, Minn. — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said the man shot and killed by Hennepin County sheriff's deputies last week in Minnetonka was not the target of the warrant, but it was "for another person who lives at that address."
Clint Hoyhtya, 28, of Minnetonka, died of multiple gunshot wounds during "a use-of-force incident on April 10," according to Tuesday's BCA news release.
The deputies, along with Minnetonka and South Lake Minnetonka police officers, went to the Glen Lake neighborhood home to arrest a person wanted for multiple felonies.
According to the BCA's preliminary investigation, "when the deputies knocked on the front door and announced themselves, Hoyhyta started shooting at them with an assault-style rifle."
The deputies returned fire and retreated to set up a perimeter.
Officials said Hoyhtya was wearing a "tactical vest with ballistic plates." Hoyhtya was shot and killed by the deputies' gunfire, according to the release.
The BCA listed all the deputies who fired their weapons that day:
- Christopher Heihn fired his department rifle. Heihn has been working for Hennepin County since 2016.
- Tyler Jacob fired his department rifle. Jacob has eight years of law enforcement experience.
- Keith McNamara fired his department rifle. McNamara has 23 years of law enforcement experience.
- Steven Tomasko fired his department handgun. Tomasko has 15 years of law enforcement experience.
All the deputies are on standard administrative leave.
Deputies Heihn and McNamara were injured during the shooting. McNamara was hit by shrapnel and was treated at the scene. Heihn was taken to HCMC after getting shot "multiple" times. He was discharged from the hospital a day later and honored by fellow deputies and emergency responders who "stood in gratitude" as he walked out of the hospital.
BCA officials said one assault rifle and dozens of cartridge casings were recovered at the scene by investigators. The deputies were wearing body cameras and BCA investigators were reviewing the video.
When the investigation is complete, the BCA is expected to take its findings to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
In the meantime, court records show a couple of years ago the homeowner, Thomas Hoyhtya, tried to evict his sister after their mother moved into an assisted living facility. Until then, records say she'd been allowed to stay there rent-free in return for caring for their mother. Eventually, an eviction request filed against the sister and two unnamed people was approved in August of 2022.