BCA identifies Duluth man, deputies involved in fatal traffic stop
Sheriff, police chief believe man killed in deputy shootout is homicide suspect from earlier shooting
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified a Duluth man and two deputies involved in a fatal use-of-force incident Feb. 10.
The man is identified as Donald Felver III, 30, of Duluth.
The BCA said Felver shot at deputies during a pursuit before deputies returned fire, killing Felver.
The BCA’s crime scene investigators said they recovered a handgun and spent casings inside Felver’s vehicle.
The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m., just hours after an earlier fatal shooting on Piedmont Avenue.
Sheriff Gordon Ramsay and Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa announced during a press conference on Wednesday that they believe Felver is responsible for the Piedmont homicide that took the life of Darius Handy, 33, of Duluth.
The two top law enforcement leaders said the two knew each other and law enforcement had dealings with both men in the past.
Meanwhile, the two St. Louis County deputies who fired their weapons were identified Sunday as Sgt. Joshua Berndt, with 19 years of law enforcement experience, and Deputy Matthew Sobczak, with 16 years of law enforcement experience.
The BCA said body-worn cameras were in use and captured portions of the incident.
Once the BCA’s independent investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation on charges to the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office for review.
