![Grand Jury Clears Police in Fatal Columbia Heights Shooting](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2015/04/court-gavel.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Grand Jury Clears Police in Fatal Columbia Heights Shooting
ANOKA -- An Anoka County grand jury has cleared two police officers in the fatal shooting of a man in Columbia Heights in November.
Officers from Columbia Heights and Fridley responded to a report of a man with a gun at a Columbia Heights business on Nov. 24.
Columbia Heights Police Chief Scott Nadeau says the officers encountered 45-year-old Michael Kirvelay, who had what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun. Nadeau said Friday that Kirvelay was holding a woman, later determined to be his sister, as hostage and threatened her. Nadeau says the officers feared for the woman's life and safety, so they fired.
Officers later discovered Kirvelay had a "replica firearm or BB gun."
Kirvelay's family contends "dispatch audio proves they knew the gun wasn't real."
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Police Looking for Alexandria Man Wanted on Several Charges](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/10/Police-lights.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![UPDATE: 4 Arrests Made In Isanti County Murder Investigation](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/01/Police.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![UPDATED – Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal St. Cloud Shooting](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/11/attachment-Deionte-Parker.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Early Sunday Morning Shooting Kills One, Hurts Two in St. Cloud](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2018/12/20181208_131824.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Police: Accidental Early Morning Shooting Sends Woman to Hospital](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/08/St.-Cloud-Police-.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Fargo Police Identify Officers and Suspect in Fatal Shooting](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/07/attachment-Fargo-News-Conference.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pilot Killed in Plane Crash on Lake Mille Lacs](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2017/08/Mille-Lacs-Lake-WJON-Stock-Image.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![BCA Releases Names in St. Joseph Officer-Involved Shooting](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2020/06/RS40634_GettyImages-921338030-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Sheriff’s Office Identifies Woman Found Dead in Fort Ripley](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/11/Crow-Wing-County-Sheriff.jpg?w=980&q=75)