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The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced it has found no evidence of unlawful behavior by law enforcement and will not be filing any charges against a member of the Minnesota State Patrol for shooting at Eddie Freeman III on Sept. 21, 2024.
Mr. Freeman has been charged with the following counts:
- One count of first-degree assault, use of deadly force against a peace officer
- Four counts of second-degree assault, dangerous weapon
- One count of fourth-degree assault against a peace officer
Following an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the case for the officer-involved shooting was forwarded to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review on Dec. 17, 2024.
“I am grateful to the BCA for their thorough investigation,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “The decision to decline charges in this case is appropriate as the use of force was justified. As we pursue accountability for Mr. Freeman, our thoughts are with the victims of his actions.”
In keeping with its officer-involved case review process, the office’s review of the case was conducted by senior attorneys who recommended charges be declined. County Attorney Mary Moriarty agreed with the recommendation and made the final decision.
According to the BCA’s investigation, Mr. Freeman was the passenger in a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-94 in Minneapolis. The driver of the vehicle reported that Mr. Freeman caused the vehicle to crash into an embankment on the side of the freeway and then fired a number of shots toward her.
Two other civilians witnessed the crash and observed Mr. Freeman pointing a gun at them, causing them to flee.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene and a Minnesota State Trooper located Mr. Freeman walking on the shoulder of the freeway. As the Trooper approached, Mr. Freeman fired his gun, striking the Trooper’s car. The Trooper performed a U-turn and exited his car while carrying a department-issued rifle.
At roughly the same time, a Minneapolis Police Officer arrived on scene, at which time Mr. Freeman pointed his weapon at him. The investigation showed that the Trooper then fired his rifle toward Mr. Freeman, but did not strike him.
Additional officers responded to the scene and Mr. Freeman was taken into custody.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County Attorney's Office website.
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