BCA identifies 2 officers, deputy involved in fatal Coon Rapids shooting

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the police officers involved in a deadly shooting that followed a traffic stop in Coon Rapids last week. 

Around 1:30 a.m., officers with the Coon Rapids Police Department initiated a traffic stop near Foley Boulevard and 98th Lane West. Police said the driver got out of the car and had a brief "physical altercation" with officers. He fired several shots at police as he fled the scene.  

Several other law enforcement agencies responded, including the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, and began to search the area. The driver was eventually located the driver hiding in a backyard. Police said more gunfire was exchanged and the driver was killed. Officers found a handgun at the scene.  

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as John Duane Fairbanks, 40, of Cass Lake. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The officers involved have been identified as Officer Alex Hattstrom, a three-year veteran of the Coon Rapids Police Department, Officer Geoff Neumann, a five-year law enforcement veteran and a member of the Coon Rapids force for the last two years, and Deputy Christopher Vitek, Jr., who has been with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office for two years. 

Hattstrom and Vitek discharged their weapons, while Neumann discharged his Taser. 

All three officers on are standard administrative leave. None were injured. 

Dash cameras, body cameras and a drone were used during the incident, according to the BCA. 

The BCA is continuing to investigate.