St. Paul PD releases bodycam footage showing officers shoot homicide suspect
St. Paul police have released body camera footage showing the moment officers opened fire on a man suspected of two shootings in Minneapolis that left three people dead.
Earl Bennett, 40, was hospitalized after being shot by police in St. Paul's Midway area on Oct. 28. He has been charged with a Minneapolis encampment shooting the day prior that killed three people, and another shooting in Minneapolis that left a man critically injured.
On Tuesday, St. Paul Police Department released excerpts of body-worn camera footage on Tuesday that captured the moments officers found and shot Bennett.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Pierce Street around 7:45 p.m. on a report of shots fired nearby, and arrived to find Bennett armed with a handgun near Snelling and Charles Avenues. Bystanders can be heard before officers arrive, trying to reason with Bennett not to shoot.
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When officers confronted Bennett, he pointed the gun at his head and began to walk south on Snelling Avenue. Officers tried to de-escalate the situation, with an officer heard in one of the videos saying, "We're here to help you," repeating multiple times for him to "get on the ground."
They negotiated with Bennett to put the gun down for around four minutes.
Someone not seen on video is heard saying Bennett's gun is "not loaded," but that this had not been confirmed. Police ordered the bystander to leave after he said he was going to take the gun out of Bennett's hands, again saying, "he's got no bullets in that gun."
Bennett continued walking south on Snelling Avenue to University Avenue, where he stopped and walked the intersection with the gun to his head. Officers used less lethal projectiles, continuing to try and get him to put the gun down, but were unsuccessful.
While trying to talk Bennett down, he pointed the handgun at officers, and four officers were seen firing their duty weapons, striking him. One officer's gun can be heard going off around eight times.
Officers rendered aid and called for Saint Paul Fire Department medics, who responded and took Bennett to Regions Hospital for treatment on critical injuries.
“Our city experienced another episode of gun violence last week. Our officers responded to one of the busiest intersections in our state for a person shooting a gun. Given the location, time of day, and number of motorists, light-rail users, and people on foot and bicycles in the area, I am thankful more people weren't injured,” St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry said.
“We remain committed as your police department to being transparent and releasing body-camera footage as soon as possible. No one, including the police officers tasked with responding to these calls, wants these outcomes. We must all work together to stop the violence in our community."
