ST PAUL, Minn. — The officer who shot and killed a 24-year-old man earlier this week in St. Paul has been identified.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says Sgt. Cody Blanshan, who has been in law enforcement for 10 years, fired his handgun while responding to a domestic assault on Monday, Dec. 5. He is now on standard administrative leave.
According to the BCA, surveillance video, which captured parts of the incident, shows "an exchange of gunfire" between the the 24-year-old man and Blanshan. The 24-year-old, who has been identified as Howard Johnson, was taken to Regions Hospital where he later died from the gunshot wound, according to the medical examiner.
The surveillance video has not yet been released to the public, nor has the body camera footage or the dashcam video that also captured the shooting.
"This family... deserves honesty, deserves to know what happened to their loved one," community leader and activist Toshira Garraway said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon as they called on the release of any video that captured the shooting.
Officers were responding to a report of a domestic assault just after 6 p.m. Monday near Earl Street and Hudson Road. The BCA said the caller reported the man was armed.
According to a press release, a woman told BCA agents that Johnson pointed a gun at her while she was in her car. The BCA says surveillance video appears to show a nearby squad car, which was occupied by Blanshan and another St. Paul police officer, hit Johnson in the back and side, knocking him to the ground. Johnson then got up and video shows an exchange of gunfire, the press release reads.
The BCA went on to say that officers handcuffed Johnson and provided medical aid until EMS arrived.
A .45 caliber Glock pistol and three casings were found at the scene, as well as 10 9-millimeter cartridge casings, which are believed have come from the handgun Blanshan fired.
"The BCA will release that video as part of the case file once the case is closed and fully adjudicated," read the BCA's press release.
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