Authorities ID Woman Killed by Officers in Aitkin County

AITKIN -- Authorities have released the name of a woman who was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers near Aitkin last week.

The Hennepin County medical examiner's office identifies the woman as 50-year-old Denise Fairchild of Aitkin.

The medical examiner says Fairchild died of a gunshot wound to the torso. She was wounded in the French Lake Wildlife Management Area on Tuesday night and later died at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.

The Aitkin County sheriff's office says deputies were called to check on the woman's welfare and found her vehicle. Authorities say the woman was armed with firearms and threatened to harm herself. Sheriff's officials say she shot at officers at least twice during negotiations. Officers returned fire and struck the woman.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.