The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released new details about a Sunday afternoon shooting in Cass County that left one man dead and a deputy injured.
The sheriff’s office reported that deputies responded to a “shots fired” call around 4:30 p.m. in Turtle Lake Township, located about 14 miles south of Bemidji in rural Walker.
When deputies arrived, they encountered 37-year-old James Weyaus of Onigum walking along County Road 13.
Investigators said Weyaus ran, prompting Cass County Deputy Kaleb Cherne to pursue him. During the chase, gunfire was exchanged, and Cherne suffered a gunshot wound to his upper right thigh.
A second deputy, David Donner, arrived shortly afterward and saw Weyaus step onto the roadway. Donner fired at Weyaus, killing him. The sheriff’s office reported that authorities recovered a 9mm handgun, a holster, and multiple shell casings at the scene.
Authorities confirmed Monday that Cherne was released from a Fargo, North Dakota hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Both Cherne and Donner, who have three and six years of law enforcement experience respectively, are on standard critical incident leave as the investigation proceeds.
The sheriff’s office said body cameras recorded the fatal encounter, and the BCA is handling the investigation.
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