BCA identifies officers and suspects involved in South St. Paul shooting

The Minnesota BCA has identified the officer and suspect involved in a shooting incident in South St. Paul over the weekend.

According to the BCA, two South St. Paul police officers were responding to a disturbance call in the garage of an apartment complex when they saw a man pointing a gun at them. The officers then exited the garage through an entrance door.

Authorities said that as officers were outside, the garage’s main door opened and the man was still standing inside.

Officer Dylan Naffzinger, who had a year and a half of experience, fired one shot at the man, later identified as 54-year-old Demetrious Royal. Royal was unharmed and complied with officers’ orders to lie on the ground.

Royal then pointed a laser pointer that could be attached to a gun at the officers. He was arrested and now faces a charge of threatening violence with a replica BB gun.

Neither Royal nor another woman who was also in the garage are said to be connected to the original emergency call.

BCA officers recovered the laser pointer and a cartridge case outside the garage. They also found a Black Ops .177 caliber CO2-powered air rifle in the garage.

The officers were wearing body cameras during the incident, which are currently being reviewed by BCA agents.

Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings to the Dakota County District Attorney’s Office without making a recommendation for charges.