Aitkin MN woman who fired shots at officers is shot and killed

A 50-year-old Aitkin woman who was threatening to kill herself, and who fired multiple shots at law enforcement officers, was shot and killed by officers Tuesday night in a rural area outside the city, authorities said Wednesday.

The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that deputies were contacted at about 4:25 p.m. Tuesday to check the welfare of a woman who reportedly was suicidal.

At about 5:30 p.m., sheriff’s deputies encountered the woman’s vehicle and followed her to 340th Place, near the junction of Minnesota Highway 210 and U.S. 169 in Fleming Township, about 8 miles northeast of Aitkin, authorities said. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer who was in the area also responded.

“According to the preliminary investigation, when law enforcement arrived, the woman remained in her vehicle and displayed a firearm, threatening to harm herself,” the BCA reported in a news release. “Over approximately 90 minutes, responding officers attempted to convince the woman to discard her weapons. At one point she emerged from the vehicle. At least twice during the exchange, the woman fired shots at the officers. At around 7:10 p.m. officers returned fire, striking the woman.”

The officers at the scene attempted to render aid, according to the BCA, which is handling the investigation of the shooting. The woman was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn., where she died shortly after 10 p.m.

The woman’s body was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner; her name will be released once an autopsy is complete and her family has been notified.

The BCA identified the officers involved in the shooting as:

Deputy Lawrence Derksen, who has been with the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years.
Deputy Greg Payment, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 10 years.
Lt. Jeff Koehn, who has been a conservation officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for 10 years.
The BCA has completed initial interviews with the officers, who are on administrative leave as is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting. BCA officials remained at the scene on Wednesday as part of an “ongoing investigation,” BCA spokeswoman Jill Oliveira told the News Tribune.

Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will give its findings to the Aitkin County Attorney's Office for review.