BCA Identifies Minnesota Officers Who Shot & Killed Woman Aiming Gun At Them

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the police officers who shot and killed an armed woman earlier this week. 

See Also: Minnesota Deputies Who Shot Knife-Wielding Suspect Identified 

Preliminary information released by the St. Paul Police Department indicated officers responded to a St. Paul home on the report of a suicidal woman Monday night. 

A news release said the woman produced a gun and pointed it at officers while they were speaking to her. The officers then shot the woman and she was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts by police. 

BCA: Woman Shot by St. Paul Police Took Out Gun, Pointed it at Officers

On Friday morning the BCA released the identities and law enforcement experience of the St. Paul Police Officers:

• Chiking Chazonkhueze. Three-and-a-half years of law enforcement experience.
•  Chee Lao. Three months of law enforcement experience.
• Yengkong Lor. Three years of law enforcement experience.

All three of the officers fired the service weapons during the deadly officer-involved shooting. They have been placed on critical incident leave. 

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The woman shot and killed by the officers has been identified as 41-year-old Pepsi Lee Heinl. A medical examiner determined she died of multiple gunshot wounds. 

A BCA-issued news release says the BCA’s investigation confirms the St. Paul Police Department’s account of the deadly incident.

The findings indicated the officers were let into the home by Heinl’s mother. She then led them into a bedroom where officers saw Heinl sitting on the floor. 

The officers asked Heinl if she needed help and she responded by reaching under a blanket, pulling out a handgun, standing up and pointing at the officers, who then opened fire, the news release says. 

BCA agents who responded to the scene recovered a handgun and multiple spent shell casings. Body-worn cameras captured the deadly incident and BCA investigators are reviewing footage. 

The state agency will present its findings upon completion of the investigation to the Ramsey County Attorney's office without a charging recommendation.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.

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