Christopher Heihn, Tyler Jacob Death – The identities of the four Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies involved in the fatal shootout in Minnetonka have been released.
According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the deputies involved are Christopher Heihn, Tyler Jacob, Keith McNamara, and Steven Tomasko. Heihn, Jacob, and McNamara discharged their department-issued rifles, while Tomasko used his department handgun.
The deceased individual, Clint Hoyhtya, 28, was shot by the police after he fired at the officers in front of a residence on East Crestwood Drive. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined that Hoyhtya died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities have clarified that the search warrant executed at the location was not intended for Hoyhtya but for another individual residing at the address. The motive behind Hoyhtya’s decision to open fire on the police remains unclear.
Here are the details of the deputies involved in the exchange:
1. Deputy Christopher Heihn: He has eight years of law enforcement experience and discharged his department rifle.
2. Deputy Tyler Jacob: He also has eight years of law enforcement experience and discharged his department rifle.
3. Deputy Keith McNamara: With 23 years of law enforcement experience, he discharged his department rifle.
4. Deputy Steven Tomasko: He has 15 years of law enforcement experience and discharged his department handgun.
Deputies Heihn and McNamara sustained injuries during the incident. McNamara was treated at the scene for shrapnel wounds, while Heihn was shot multiple times and received treatment at Hennepin County Medical Center. He has since been released.
According to the preliminary investigation conducted by the BCA, Hennepin County deputies, along with officers from the Minnetonka and South Lake Minnetonka police departments, arrived at the residence to execute a search warrant for an individual with multiple felonies.
Upon announcing themselves at the front door, Hoyhtya began shooting at the deputies with an “assault-style rifle,” prompting the deputies to return fire and establish a perimeter.
During the shooting, Hoyhtya was wearing a tactical vest with ballistic plates but was ultimately fatally wounded.
