St. Paul Cop Won't Face Criminal Charges In Deadly Shooting

ST. PAUL, MN — The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that it will not file criminal charges in the deadly police shooting that killed Howard Peter Holliday Johnson on Dec. 5, 2022.

After reviewing the investigation conducted by the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Ramsey County prosecutors concluded that the use of deadly force used by St. Paul Police Sergeant Cody Blanshan was legally justified under Minnesota law.

"In this critical incident, Sergeant Blanshan was responding to a report of a domestic assault as articulated in your memorandum," Ramsey County Attorney’s Office John Choi said in an email to his staff.

"Your memorandum ultimately concludes that the use of deadly force by Sergeant Blanshan was justified under Minnesota law. I agree with your conclusion and appreciate the depth of your analysis and painstaking review of all the evidence gathered by BCA investigators. In addition, I appreciate the fact that we retained Jeff Noble, as a police use of force expert, to help us, and ultimately the public, better understand all the circumstances present in this officer involved fatality and tactics utilized by responding officers."

St. Paul police released body camera footage from the shooting just days after the shooting. Choi asked that the BCA release all public data from this investigation "as quickly as possible."

According to the BCA, St. Paul police responded to Earl Street and Hudson Road just after 6 p.m. Monday on reports of a domestic assault.

The 911 caller reported that Johnson was armed, and officers formed a perimeter around the scene, investigators said.

At the same time, a woman was leaving a business on Hudson Road and got into her car. As the woman started to drive away, Johnson approached her vehicle and pointed a gun at her, the BCA said.

Blanshan was in a squad car nearby as part of the perimeter.

"He's right there," Blanshan said to his radio, according to the video. "He's walking eastbound. Got the gun in his right hand. He's pointing it at a car, he's trying to carjack right now."

Blanshan's squad car then struck Johnson, knocking him to the ground, according to investigators.

"Don't do it!" Johnson is heard shouting.

Johnson got up, exchanged gunfire with Blanshan, and was fatally struck. Blanshan was not injured.

Officers handcuffed Johnson and gave him first aid before EMS responded, according to investigators. He was then taken to Regions Hospital, where he died.

BCA agents said they found a .45 caliber Glock Pistol and three .45 caliber bullet casings at the scene. They also found 10 9-millimeter cartridge casings, "consistent with the department handgun Blanshan fired," the BCA said.