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Monday, November 12, 2018

Minnesota Mason Fatally Shot


A Minnesota Freemason was shot and killed by a police officer last night who was responding to a fire alarm call at his home. Brother James Paul Hanchett, 61, of Shakopee, Minnesota was a 22-year member of Minnesota River Valley Lodge No. 6

According to preliminary reports, when police arrived at the house, he met them at the door and leveled a handgun at them. The police officer feared for his life and fatally shot him multiple times.

From a story on the Shakopee Valley News website this morning:

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the Shakopee police officer who fired his weapon as Officer Thor Carlson, who has been with the Shakopee Police Department for 12 years. He has been placed on standard administrative leave, according to a BCA press release.

Based on the preliminary investigation, officers from the Shakopee Police Department responded to a fire alarm call at 823 Apgar Street South at 11:08 p.m. at the request of an alarm company. When officers attempted to make contact with the occupants of the residence, they encountered Hanchett at the door.

Officers were met at the front door by a man holding a handgun, according to the Shakopee Police Department. According to police, the man raised his gun and pointed it at one of the officers, who feared for his life and shot the man. Officers began performing life-saving measures on the man but he was later pronounced dead at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, according to a Shakopee police release. He died at 11:50 p.m., according to the medical examiner's report.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun from the scene. The officers were wearing body cameras and the incident was recorded, police said.

The BCA is continuing to conduct interviews and evaluate the body camera videos and other evidence from the scene to determine the events that led up to the shooting. When the investigation is complete, the BCA will turn its findings over to the Scott County Attorney’s Office for review.

According to Hanchett's obituary, he enjoyed fishing and hunting, loved his cat, Elliot, and was a Mason with the Minnesota River Valley No. 6 Lodge.
This story will be updated. 

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