A man shot and killed Tuesday in Eveleth by a Minnesota State Patrol trooper reportedly brandished a six-shot revolver and failed to follow the trooper's commands before he was shot.
Trooper Bryan Carey stopped Ronald Hannuksela, 50, of Mountain Iron, on the 700 block of Douglas Avenue in Eveleth at 1:10 p.m. Hannuksela was wanted on felony warrants in three Northeastern Minnesota counties.
During the traffic stop, "Hannuksela was reported to be noncompliant with the trooper's command to exit the vehicle. Mr. Hannuksela reportedly brandished a handgun and multiple shots were fired by the trooper," according to Sheriff's Department Lt. Ed Kippley at an 11:30 a.m. news conference in Virginia.
Hannuksela was shot in his car and died at the scene.
Authorities are not saying how many shots Carey fired or whether Hannuksela fired his six-shot, .32 caliber revolver. The gun appeared to be loaded at the scene, authorities said, but whether it was fired or not will be determined by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
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The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation of the shooting with assistance from the Eveleth Police Department and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Carey, 35, a two-year veteran of the Virginia District of the State Patrol was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting, which is standard Patrol procedure.
Carey has received 10 letters of commendation during his work as a trooper. He is also a drug recognition expert and trained to detect cues of drug transportation on the roadways.
Hannuksela had convictions for first-degree drug possession, unlawfully possessing a pistol after being convicted of violent crimes, harassment, stalking and for violating restraining orders. Active warrants for his arrest were recently issued in St. Louis, Carlton and Pine counties.
