Minneapolis man was shot by officer before he killed himself, BCA says

A man who exchanged gunfire with police at his home in northeast Minneapolis last week was first shot in the stomach by an injured officer before he shot himself in the head and died, state investigators said Friday afternoon.

Also Friday, the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) identified the man who died as Brian Keith Bertram, 53, of Minneapolis, in the encounter that began late Tuesday afternoon with a 911 hang-up call from the home in the 3400 block of NE. 5th Street and lasted barely half an hour.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office agreed with the BCA earlier Friday that a shot to the head from a shotgun killed Bertram but stopped short Friday of saying he took his own life.

"Manner [of death] is pending investigation," Hennepin County spokesperson Carolyn Marinan told the Star Tribune.

The officer who shot Bertram was identified by the BCA as Luke Rysavy, who has 19 months of law enforcement experience. He was placed on standard administrative leave as the investigation continues.

According to the BCA:

In response to the hang-up calls, Rysavy and another officer went to the home and confirmed there were people inside not answering the front door.

Rysavy responded with one shot from his pistol, striking Bertram in the stomach.

Both officers exited the home, and "while they were outside, Bertram shot and killed himself," the BCA statement read.

Crime scene personnel recovered a shotgun next to Bertram's body.

Rysavy and the other responding officer were wearing body cameras during the incident and BCA agents are reviewing that video.

Other people in the home have spoken to investigators, according to the BCA. Police identified them earlier as a woman, a boy and a girl.

The BCA said that once its investigation is complete, it will send its findings without recommendation to the County Attorney's Office for review to determine whether the police response was justified.