BODYCAM: Saint Paul Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Suspect
A still image from body-worn camera shows Howard P. Johnson moments before he is shot by a Saint Paul police officer on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.
Authorities on Thursday released squad car and body-worn camera video from the fatal shooting of an armed suspect in Saint Paul earlier this week.
The suspect—now identified as Howard P. Johnson, 24—can be seen armed with a gun and appears to fire at least one round before being shot by a responding SPPD officer.
The video, which was released after requests by the suspect’s family, includes portions from Sgt. Cody Blanshan’s body-worn camera and from a squad car near Earl & Hudson.
Officers were initially called nearby after a report of a domestic assault, with a male suspect said to have fled on foot while armed with a gun. After spotting Johnson near the intersection, Blanshan radios that he is holding a firearm in his right hand.
A woman at a business on Hudson Rd. had just left the business and got in to her parked car, she later told investigators with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The woman said as she started to pull away, Johnson approached her vehicle and was pointing the gun at her.
Blanshan radios to dispatch that he saw Johnson pointing the gun at the driver and that he was attempting to carjack her.
Surveillance video nearby showed a squad car then striking Johnson in the back and side, pushing him past another vehicle and knocking him to the ground. Johnson got back up and appeared to fire at least one gunshot in the direction of Blanshan, who then returned fire.
Johnson was struck multiple times, fell to the ground and dropped the gun. Officers moved in, handcuffed him and rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived. He would later die at the hospital of gunshot wounds to the torso and leg.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered a .45-caliber Glock pistol and three .45-caliber bullet casings at the scene, believed to have been fired by Johnson. They also recovered ten 9-millimeter cartridge casings, consistent with the department handgun Blanshan fired.
According to state court records, Johnson was convicted of felony domestic abuse and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle in 2021. He was also convicted of felony domestic assault and felony violation of a domestic abuse no contact order in 2020.
Blanshan is on standard administrative leave and has been an officer for 10 years.
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