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The St. Paul Police Department released the body camera footage Tuesday
of the fatal officer-involved shooting of 31-year-old Ronald Davis on
Sept. 15. The incident began shortly before 6 p.m., when Davis
reportedly rear-ended a St. Paul police squad car near the intersection
on Thomas Avenue West and North Griggs Street. According to the
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and St. Paul police, both men
exited their vehicles and Davis confronted the officer, identified as
Officer Steven Mattson. Davis allegedly ignored repeated commands to
drop the knife and at one point during the encounter, Mattson fired his
weapon, killing Davis. Mattson, who has been with the police department
for less than a year, was uninjured and was wearing a body camera at the
time of the shooting. He remains on standard administrative leave.
The BCA is still investigating the deadly shooting. Amid growing
pressure for transparency, St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell made the
decision to release the body camera video—one of the fastest turnarounds
of footage in the city’s recent history. Last year, Axtell released
body camera video in the officer-involved shooting of Billy Hughes 12
days after it occurred. He made the footage public in an effort to
dispel rumors and calm protests. Axtell said last week that he is
releasing the video now because part of the BCA’s investigation is
complete. The BCA said it has no position regarding police releasing the
body camera video. However, once it the video is released, the BCA said
its investigators would not be able to ensure the integrity of
statements from witnesses who come forward after they have seen the
video
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