Man Shot Killed by St. Paul Police ID’d

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released the name of the man who was shot and killed by St. Paul police early Monday.

A statement issued by the BCA Tuesday says 33-year-old Jaffort Smith of St. Paul died after he engaged four officers in a gun battle in the backyard of a home.

The St. Paul officers involved in the incident had been dispatched to the area after an employee of a car towing business called 911 to report a man with a gun. The employee told investigators a woman entered the business around 3:30 a.m. and was followed by Smith, who took the woman back outside after displaying a gun.

Minutes later, the officers spotted the pair and Smith shot the 49-year-old woman before he fled on foot. He was pursued into the backyard of the home, where the BCA says he shot at the officers and they opened fire and fatally wounded Smith after he ignored repeated orders to drop his weapon.

The wounded woman was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment. Her relationship, if there was one, to Smith is still under investigation.

All four officers have been placed on paid leave pending the completion of the investigation. One of the officers has been with the St. Paul Police Department for 18 years.