Victim, St. Paul Officers ID'd In Fatal Shooting
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Relatives of a man fatally shot by St. Paul police are asking the public to remain calm as they wait for answers about his death.
Police said the man, identified by family members as 24-yaer-old Michael Golden, was shot as he drove his vehicle toward officers Wednesday after they responded to a woman's complaint about receiving threatening text messages.
Officers Jeremy Doverspike and Dan Peck were not injured. Police say a loaded gun was recovered at the scene, and was in the immediate reach of Golden at the time of the shooting.
"We realize there are many questions surrounding the shooting and we ask the public to remain calm as, together, we await the answers," the family said in a statement, which said Golden was a beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin.
Police records show that Golden had made threats against officers and others as recently as last November.
As one officer drove him to jail, he said, "I hope you get killed soon, go to hell bro" and "You devils gonna' burn in hell," among other things, according to one report. He was arrested for allegedly breaking windows and making threats at the apartment of Michael Elton, an ex-girlfriend's father.
Golden was not charged in that incident, but the father obtained a restraining order. It wasn't immediately clear whether that ex-girlfriend was the same woman Golden allegedly threatened this week.
"I consider him dangerous," Elton said. "Throwing a brick through the window is dangerous."
The St. Paul NAACP has called for an independent investigation into the shooting. Its president, Jeff Martin, said the investigating agency should be "totally removed" from the city or state. Golden was black; the races of the officers were not released.
Officer Doverspike is a seven-year veteran of the St. Paul Police Department, and Officer Peck has been with the force for two years. Both were placed on a three-day administrative leave, which is department policy.
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