ST PAUL, Minn. — Editor's note: The video above first aired on KARE 11 in December of 2022.
The Ramsey County Attorney's Office (RCAO) said the St. Paul police officer who shot and killed a man while responding to a domestic assault last year will not face charges in connection with his death.
In a statement Wednesday, the county attorney's office said officials determined Sgt. Cody Blanshan acted justly when using deadly force against 24-year-old Howard Johnson on Dec. 5, 2022. The RCAO presented its findings in a 33-page memorandum, outlining the circumstances of the case.
In his reply to the memorandum, County Attorney John Choi said he agreed with the decision not to prosecute Blanshan.
"I agree with your conclusion and appreciate the depth of your analysis and painstaking review of all the evidence gathered by BCA investigators," Choi said in an emailed response.
In its investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) determined Blanshan, a 10-year law enforcement veteran, fired his handgun at Johnson while responding to a report of a domestic assault. The 911 caller reportedly told police that Johnson was assaulting her and that he was armed with a gun. According to responding officers, the situation escalated once they arrived, ultimately leading to Johnson's shooting death.
Later, the BCA claimed surveillance video from the area, which captured parts of the incident, showed "an exchange of gunfire" between the 24-year-old man and Blanshan. According to the agency, officers attempted life-saving measures until EMS personnel arrived but Johnson succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Officer Blanshan was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
The BCA claimed surveillance video, which captured parts of the incident, showed "an exchange of gunfire" between the 24-year-old man and Blanshan. According to the agency, officers attempted life-saving measures until EMS personnel arrived but Johnson succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
In its initial investigation, the BCA said it recovered a .45 caliber Glock pistol and three casings at the scene, as well as several 9-millimeter cartridge casings, which were believed to have come from Johnson's firearm.
Following the shooting, Johnson's loved ones called for authorities to release officer-worn body camera footage. Three days later, the family was the first to view an edited compilation of Blanshan's body-worn and dash camera video, depicting the events from that night.
At the time, Johnson's stepfather, Kenneth Manning, told KARE 11 that the video left him with "a lot more questions than answers."
"I want justice for my child," he said.
"I want justice for all the Black men that have been killed by police," Johnson's mother, Monique Johnson said at a press conference."That is my child. I deserve to know what happened to him."
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