Shakopee officer will not be charged in deadly November shooting

The Shakopee police officer who fatally shot a man after responding to a house fire alarm in November will not be charged, according to the Scott County Attorney.

In a report released Friday, Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar states "the officer appriopriately exercised the use of deadly force".

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation, on Nov. 9 an ADT fire alarm went off at James Paul Hanchett's home in the 800 block of Apgar Street. Shakopee Police Officer Thor Carlson and Officer McKenzie Lampman, who was in training, responded to the call. 

When the officers arrived at the home, they both knocked at the door. Hanchett eventually came to the door and opened it. Both body cameras show Hanchett holding and raising a gun directly at Officer Carlson.

In an BCA interview, Carlson said he thought Hanchett was going to shoot him. Carlson then fired three to four shots. Emergency crews took Hanchett to St. Francis Hospital where he later died. An autopsy determined he died of multiple gunshot wounds. He also had a blood alcohol level of 0.141. Investigators determined Hanchett's gun was a .45 Glock.

The officers activated their body cameras immediately after the shooting. The cameras are designed to capture video 30 seconds before the cameras are activated. The audio begins once activated.