An 83-year-old North Mankato, Minn., man armed with two handguns was shot and killed after exchanging gunfire with police trying to check his welfare, authorities said Friday.

Thursday's death of Lloyd Hodgson Tschohl is being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Tschohl died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Ramsey County medical examiner's office.

Three officers from a regional tactical response team who exchanged fire with Tschohl are on administrative leave, which is standard in officer-involved shootings.

They were identified by the BCA as officer Daniel Forester, a nine-year veteran of the North Mankato police; officer Douglas Frericks, a 26-year veteran of the Mankato police, and Sgt. Jeffrey Knutson, a 10-year veteran of the Mankato police.

They are members of the River Valley Tactical Response Team, which is made up of officers from the Mankato, North Mankato and St. Peter departments as well as the Blue Earth and Nicollet County Sheriff's Offices.

State authorities gave this account of what happened:

North Mankato police had tried to check on Tschohl's welfare twice Wednesday after a relative called in a request, but Tschohl had refused to speak with officers. The family called again Thursday to say Tschohl had made homicidal statements and had weapons in his home.

About 10 a.m. Thursday, North Mankato police asked Tschohl to come out of his home to talk with officers, but he refused. Concerned about the reports of weapons inside, authorities called in the response team and tried for three-plus hours to get Tschohl to leave his home.

About 2 p.m., Tschohl fired on officers who approached his house, shooting from a front window and back door. A short time later, Tschohl came out through the back door with the handguns and opened fire.

The three officers returned fire, and Tschohl was hit. He was taken to Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Mankato, where he was pronounced dead.

When the BCA investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Nicollet County attorney's office for review.

VINCE TUSS