Stillwater Officer Who Fired Fatal Shot Did Not Have Body Cam On: BCA

STILLWATER, MN — The Stillwater officer who shot and killed a man outside of an apartment complex on Saturday was not wearing his body camera, according to state investigators.

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension released details from its investigation of the fatal police shooting outside an apartment complex in Stillwater.

Police Chief Brian Mueller requested that the BCA conduct an independent investigation of the incident.

Police shot and killed Okwan Rahmier Sims, 21, of Stillwater during an "exchange of gunfire," the BCA said.

The state agency identified the Stillwater police officer who fired his service rifle as Justin Dowley. Dowley has seven years of law enforcement experience. He was placed on standard administrative leave.

Dowley was not wearing his body camera during the fatal shooting, the BCA said. According to the state agency, "he was not supposed to start his shift until 3 p.m. that day and had not yet put on his camera."

However, "many" officers involved were wearing body cameras that captured portions of the incident, and the BCA said it is reviewing the video. The footage will be made public once the case is closed.

A second Stillwater officer is also on leave, but "it’s unclear at this time whether he fired his service weapon," the BCA said.

Just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, 911 calls started coming in from people reporting gunshots in an apartment building in Stillwater.

Sims came out of his room with a gun and started shooting at a woman, hitting her at least once, the agency said.

Stillwater and Oak Park Heights police officers, and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, responded and began looking for the shooter.

Dowley and a second officer confronted Sims and exchanged gunfire in the apartment building's parking lot. Sims was hit.

Officers treated Sims until he could be taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

BCA agents said they recovered a handgun, several extended magazines, and dozens of 9mm shell casings at the scene.

After its investigation, the BCA will present its findings — without a charging recommendation — to the Washington County Attorney’s Office.