St. Paul, MN – A man was fatally shot by St. Louis County deputies in a rural Minnesota township this week after allegedly starting fires and threatening neighbors while armed, officials said.
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the incident occurred on Monday in Normanna Township, near Duluth. The BCA identified the deceased as Adam Clinton Wolf, 57, of Normanna Township. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office reported Wolf died of gunshot wounds.
The BCA said St. Louis County deputies discharged their firearms during the confrontation and were placed on critical incident leave. Those deputies are Sgt. Zachary Peterson, Deputy Charles Bennett, Deputy Matt Miranda, Deputy Forest Lunnemann, and Deputy Michael Pikul, all of whom have between three and 10 years of law enforcement experience, according to the BCA.
According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, deputies were dispatched shortly after 9:30 a.m. Monday to the 6200 block of Heritage Road after reports that Wolf, allegedly armed with a rifle-style weapon, was setting fires at his home and his neighbors’ homes while riding a lawnmower. Firefighters reported hearing gunshots and said they were shot at while responding.
Deputies arrived on scene and began searching for Wolf, who was found and allegedly exchanged gunfire with officers before being shot. Medical aid was provided but Wolf was pronounced dead at the scene.
BCA agents recovered a firearm similar to a shotgun and spent cartridges, as well as makeshift explosive devices. Deputies involved were equipped with body cameras and the BCA is reviewing the footage as part of its ongoing investigation.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office requested the BCA investigate. The BCA stated its findings will be presented to the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office once the review is complete.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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