Officials: Man killed by sheriff's deputy wanted to die

The Traverse County Attorney's Office will not pursue charges in an officer-involved shooting because they believe Jay Holmgren, 37, provoked the fatal gun fire.

Investigators say a Stevens County deputy initially stopped Holmgren on the morning of Oct. 28 in the western Minnesota town of Donnelly. However, they say Holmgren drove away, leading several law enforcement officers on a chase into Traverse County.

According to investigators, officers forced Holmgren off the road. They say he later got out of his truck and pointed his gun at several officers including Stevens County deputy Ron Hensinger.

The BCA investigated the shooting and turned over its findings to the Traverse County Attorney's Office. County attorney Matthew Franzese concluded there was no cause to turn the case over to a Grand Jury, "because the facts do not warrant it."

Franzese wrote that deputy Hensinger and the other officers gave Holmgren multiple opportunities to drop his weapon and surrender.

"In this case, the evidence is clear that Holmgren intended to cause his own death by threatening the lives of the law enforcement officers who were tasked with pursuing him and trying to take him into custody," wrote Franzese, who added, that all the officers said they observed Holmgren pointing his weapon at them.

"By pointing his weapon at these officers, Holmgren had to know that he would be fired upon," wrote Franzese.