Authorities ID teenager killed by Duluth police

by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio

Duluth, Minn. — The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the 17-year-old shot to death by a police officer in Duluth Thursday night as Joseph Anthony Carl.

Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay says police were called late Thursday to a home on 79th Avenue west. A boy who lived in the home was reportedly smashing a television and breaking windows with a baseball bat. Ramsay said Carl attacked the squad car when it arrived.

"The officer began reversing the car and side-swiped a parked vehicle and came to a stop," Ramsay said. "The male then swung that bat at the driver's window, shattering the glass, and continued the attack while the officer was still seated in the squad car."

Ramsay said a single shot was fired from the officer's duty weapon and the teen with the bat retreated. He said Carl died at the scene.

Ramsay would not yet identify either the police officer involved. The police officer is now on administrative leave, which is standard protocol.

"Per our department policy, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been requested to investigate this incident," Ramsay said.