Autopsy: 5 officers fired at man after Minn. carjacking

Published 6:42 pm Friday, April 8, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Preliminary autopsy results show the 28-year-old man who stole a taxi at gunpoint in Minneapolis and led police on a high-speed chase died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities say Friday that five officers fired their weapons at Jason Peter Barsness after he emerged from the taxi and pointed a gun at authorities. But it’s not clear if all five officers hit Barsness.

The officers who fired their guns, and an officer who witnessed the shooting, are on administrative leave while the case is investigated.

The chase began around 5 a.m. Thursday when Barsness allegedly stole a taxi and led police through the north metro area. The chase ended along Interstate 35E in Columbus after Barsness ran over spike strips and into a ditch.

Barsness is from Cass Lake.