BCA identifies man, officer in fatal Rochester shooting
State officials have identified the man and officer who were involved in a fatal shooting Saturday in Rochester.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says 27-year-old Joshua Clayton Hippler was the man who died from multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, KAAL-TV reports.
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The officer who shot Hippler was identified as Rochester police officer Michael Bottcher, who has been with the department for about a year. Bottcher was placed on standard administrative leave.
Shortly after the incident, Rochester police said Hippler was suspected of robbing a Domino’s Pizza on Broadway Avenue Friday night before fleeing in a van. Officers found the van early Saturday morning and stopped it on Highway 63 near the Highway 53 overpass.
Police said Hippler then got out of the van with an ax and charged toward an officer before the officer — Bottcher — fired his gun, striking Hippler. The department added that emergency aid was provided to Hippler but he died from his injuries.
The BCA says a knife and ax were recovered from the scene, and the shooting was captured by a body camera.
KAAL reports that the BCA will release the bodycam video when the investigation is fully closed. As of Wednesday morning, the investigation remains active.