The Itasca County Attorney's Office has cleared an sheriff's deputy in the fatal shooting of a man who pointed his shotgun at officers.
Deputy Stephen Snyder was put on administrative paid leave after fatally shooting 31-year-old Adam R. Schneider outside his home in Cohasset in August.
After the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension conducted an external investigation of the shooting, the attorney's office reviewed the case and determined that "all responding officers involved and citizens in the area faced the threat of great bodily harm as a result of Mr. Schneider's actions," according to a news release.
"The use of deadly force was ruled as justified by the Itasca County Attorney's Office," according to the news release.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at 2:50 a.m. of a disturbance at Schneider's home. When deputies arrived, Schneider was standing outside the home holding a shotgun.
Schneider ignored repeated orders from deputies to put the gun down and then pointed the weapon at the them.
Snyder fired his gun and struck Schneider. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.
Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647
