Minnetonka Man Shot At Deputies, Who Responded With Deadly Force: BCA

ST. PAUL — The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man killed by county deputies on April 10 in Minnetonka.

Clint Hoyhtya, 28, of Minnetonka died of multiple gunshot wounds, the examiner ruled.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety also identified four Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies who discharged their firearms. They are all currently on standard administrative leave:

• Christopher Heihn fired his department rifle. He has eight years of law enforcement experience.
• Tyler Jacob fired his department rifle. He has eight years of law enforcement experience.
• Keith McNamara fired his department rifle. He has 23 years of law enforcement experience.
• Steven Tomasko fired his department handgun. He has 15 years of law enforcement experience.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office asked the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate this incident. The BCA will present its findings without a charging recommendation to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review, according to a news release.

On the morning of April 10, deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Minnetonka and South Lake Minnetonka police departments went to a home in Minnetonka to arrest a person wanted for multiple felonies.

The warrant was not for Hoyhtya, but for another person who lives at that address, police said.

When the deputies knocked on the front door and announced themselves, Hoyhyta started shooting at them with an assault-style rifle, according to investigators.

The deputies then returned fire and backed away to set up a perimeter.

Hoyhtya was wearing a tactical vest with ballistic plates during the shooting but was fatally struck by the deputies’ gunfire and died at the scene, police said.

Deputies Heihn and McNamara were also injured during the incident:

• McNamara was struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene.
• Heihn was shot multiple times, taken to HCMC for treatment and has since been released.

State investigators found an assault rifle and dozens of cartridge casings at the scene.

The incident was captured on body-worn cameras, which state agents will review as part of the active investigation.