The man shot at by police in Eagan this week suffered a bullet wound to the head, but investigators have yet to disclose whether it was police or the suspect himself who fired the fatal shot.
Also Wednesday, state authorities identified the two officers who opened fire in the shooting late Sunday morning: Sgt. Nathan Tennessen, who has been on the force for 18 years, and Alison Burstein, who has been an Eagan officer for four years.
Police spokesman Aaron Machtemes said neither officer has had any disciplinary actions against them since they joined the force and they “have many letters from the community and department members showing appreciation.” In 2003, Tennessen received an award of merit from the department for his community relations work at a substation in a high-crime area.
The officers were responding Sunday morning to a 911 call about a man, later identified as Justin Kulhanek-Derks, reportedly sitting in his car firing a handgun into the air and toward the Forest Ridge apartments in the 1200 block of Ironwood Lane.
After police arrived, the officers “were immediately fired upon” by 37-year-old Kulhanek-Derks, according to a statement from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Kulhanek-Derks was then shot and pronounced dead at the scene. The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office said he died from a gunshot to the head.
BCA spokeswoman Jill Oliveira was asked Wednesday afternoon whether it remains an open question for investigators whether the police gunfire killed the suspect or whether he shot himself.
“That is correct,” she said.
