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Accident – death – Obituary News :
St. Paul Police Department Responds to Violent Incident Involving Armed Suspect
December 5, 2023
The St. Paul Police Department in Minnesota received a distressing report on December 5, 2023. A 24-year-old man named Brandon Keys was allegedly following a woman who had an order for protection against him. The situation escalated quickly as the woman reported that Keys had repeatedly rammed her car, smashed her windows, and was armed with a pistol.
Officer Michael Tschida promptly responded to the call and arrived at the scene to find the man standing by the shattered driver’s side window, with the terrified woman still inside her vehicle. Keys’ car was parked in the roadway, with its driver’s door wide open.
Keeping a Safe Distance
Officer Tschida, prioritizing his safety and maintaining a reactionary gap from the suspect, parked his squad car at a safe distance from the vehicles.
As he cautiously stepped out of his vehicle with his gun drawn, the suspect began walking towards him, while the woman started driving her car forward. Officer Tschida swiftly ordered the man to the ground as he advanced.
Reacting to the Threat
Realizing that the suspect was attempting to take cover behind his vehicle, Officer Tschida quickly moved laterally to his right. This tactical maneuver aimed to confuse the suspect and provide a better view of his position, if possible.
However, as Officer Tschida moved, the suspect opened fire. In response, Tschida fired his own weapon while continuing his lateral movement. The suspect was struck and fell to the ground.
Officer Tschida immediately radioed dispatch to inform them of the shots fired and his own injury.
Simultaneously, the woman drove her vehicle towards Officer Tschida. Reacting swiftly, Tschida moved back towards the cover of his squad car.
Unpredictable Situations
Despite being wounded in the ankle by gunfire, Officer Tschida valiantly continued to engage the threat. He knew that the armed suspect posed a danger not only to him but also to everyone present at the gas station and in the surrounding area.
Tschida repeatedly instructed the woman to move out of harm’s way, but she disregarded his commands and instead pleaded for someone to help the suspect. Undeterred, Tschida carefully approached the downed suspect’s vehicle, ensuring his own safety.
He seized control of the suspect’s weapon, moving it away from the suspect, and knelt beside it. He promptly informed the arriving officers that the weapon was secured, directing them to his position.
The suspect succumbed to his injuries the following day, while Officer Tschida is in the process of recovering from his wounds.
Important Lessons to Learn
Every officer-involved shooting provides valuable lessons for law enforcement professionals. As you watch the video below, ask yourself if you are adequately trained to respond in a similar manner:
- Are you positioning yourself tactically and maintaining an appropriate distance when responding to calls, considering the threat level?
- Have you received training on lateral movement when faced with an armed threat?
- Do you regularly practice shooting while on the move to maintain your skill level?
- Have you trained for shooting from a downed position and officer-wounded scenarios?
- During training sessions, do you practice effective communication with dispatch and other officers, conveying the situation calmly and professionally?
- Do your training scenarios incorporate waiting for sufficient backup before approaching a downed suspect?
- Are you equipped with the necessary skills to safely take a suspect’s weapon into custody and apply handcuffs?
- Does your training encompass transitioning into a medical role and providing necessary lifesaving measures after a shooting?
- Do your scenarios account for potential interference from bystanders, including those who may record the incident on their cellphones or exhibit agitated behavior?
- Are you prepared to handle a situation after sustaining a personal injury?
- Have you practiced self-care in a medical context, including applying a tourniquet to yourself?
If your training does not cover these areas, you may not be adequately prepared to handle the high-stress, rapidly evolving events of an officer-involved shooting. Consider seeking additional training if your department does not provide it.
At the very least, use this video, along with others depicting officer-involved shootings, to mentally rehearse the appropriate responses and tactics required to effectively manage situations similar to Officer Tschida’s.
Next, read our analysis of a hammer attack on a Connecticut detective, which offers valuable insights into responding to close-quarters attacks.
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