The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Friday identified the man shot by a sheriff’s deputy last month in Monticello as 18-year-old Dwayne Trunnell of Monticello.
The BCA also identified the two Wright County deputies involved in the Nov. 25 encounter and confirmed that both have been placed on critical incident leave, which is standard protocol following officer-involved shootings.
Deputy Benjamin Skweres, a five-year law enforcement veteran, discharged his firearm during the incident. Deputy Kyle Phillips, who has one year of experience, deployed a Taser.
According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, the deputies were dispatched just before 9 p.m. to the 900 block of Golf Course Road after receiving a report of a man in the street armed with a knife. When they arrived, deputies found Trunnell walking in the roadway while holding a knife.
Investigators said the deputies repeatedly ordered Trunnell to drop the weapon. When he did not comply and advanced toward them, Phillips deployed his Taser and Skweres fired his handgun.
Authorities said Trunnell initially fell to the ground but stood back up and continued advancing toward the deputies while still holding the knife. Deputies continued to shout commands for him to drop the weapon, the BCA said. When he continued moving toward them, Skweres fired a second time.
Trunnell fell again, stood up, and ran a short distance before collapsing and dropping the knife. First responders provided medical aid at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital for treatment. His current condition has not been released.
BCA crime scene investigators recovered a knife, a Taser with a spent cartridge, spent cartridge casings, and video from the deputies’ body-worn cameras.
