St. Louis County sheriff releases video of officer-involved shooting

DULUTH — The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office released squad and body-worn camera video captured during the officer-involved shooting on July 15 in Normanna Tonwship.

The body-worn footage shows the exchange of gunfire between sheriff's deputies and Adam Clinton Wolf, 57, of Normanna Township, who died at the scene from gunfire.

It contains excerpts from the footage captured by the body-worn cameras worn by deputies Charles Bennett, Forest Lunemann, Michael Pikul, Matt Miranda and Sgt. Zachary Peterson.

According to the preliminary investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, St. Louis County deputies were dispatched just before 9:30 a.m. July 15, to an arson incident on the 6200 block of Heritage Road.

A man, later identified as Wolf, was reported to have started fires at his home as well as two of his neighbors' homes. Wolf was reported to be driving around on a riding lawnmower while armed with a rifle-style weapon.

A responding firefighter extinguished the fires at a neighbor home. The firefighter reported hearing gunshots and believed he was being shot at. A responding police officer from Duluth Township also reported being shot at when they arrived at the location.

Deputies arrived and began searching the area for Wolf. They located Wolf and he shot at them. An exchange of gunfire occurred, and Wolf was shot. Medical aid was rendered to Wolf, but he was pronounced deceased.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a firearm similar to a shotgun, spent cartridge casings as well as improvised shotgun-type devices along the roadway.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident, including our Deputies, 911 staff and all the Fire and Emergency personnel who responded, as well as the affected neighbors and family of Mr. Wolf. We hope the release of this footage provides some clarity as everyone involved attempts to understand this tragic incident," stated Sheriff Gordon Ramsay in a news release.

The BCA, which is conducting the investigation, previously identified the officers and subject involved in the incident.

"As this remains an open and ongoing investigation no further comments or information will be released at this time," the release stated.