Itasca County Sheriff’s Deputy Cleared In Fatal Shooting

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — The Itasca County Attorney's Office has cleared a sheriff's deputy in the fatal shooting of a man who pointed a shotgun at officers this summer.

Deputy Stephen Snyder was put on administrative paid leave after fatally shooting 31-year-old Adam Schneider outside his home in Cohasset in August.

After the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension conducted an external investigation, the county attorney's office ruled the use of deadly force was justified.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call 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 them.

Snyder fired his gun and struck Schneider. He died at a hospital.