Suspect in Hermantown officer-involved shooting wore bulletproof vest
HERMANTOWN, Minn. (FOX 9) - Officials say the suspect killed in an officer-involved shooting in Hermantown, Minnesota Saturday was wearing a bulletproof vest. Authorities also identified the two sheriff's deputies involved in the shooting.
According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, one of the officers was identified as Deputy Troy Fralich, who has been with the department for 12 years. The other officer is Deputy Jason Kuhnly, who has been with the department for five years. Both are on standard administrative leave.
The suspect was identified as Timothy Russell Majchrzak, 37, of Hermantown.
Shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, Hermantown police officers pursued a motorcyclist who was going over 100 mph. They eventually called the pursuit off. Not long after, sheriff's deputies spotted Majchrzak and pursued him briefly until he got stuck and tried to flee on foot. At one point during the encounter shots were fired, and Majchrzak was killed.
The BCA said crime scene personnel recovered a semi-automatic handgun at the scene and determined that Majchrzak was wearing a bulletproof vest with a trauma plate at the time of the incident.
Authorities said that at one point during the encounter, Majchrzak pointed a gun at Kuhnly, and the two exchanged gunfire. Majchrzak was "struck in the vest, but continued to fire on Deputy Kuhnly," according to a news release.
At another point, Deputy Fralich struck Mr. Majchrzak with his squad. Law enforcement personnel rendered medical aid, but Majchrzak was pronounced dead at the scene. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The BCA is investigating the incident, which was captured on dashcam video.