Bryan Nygard, 34, from Cyrus, sadly passed away after a confrontation with the police in Pope County. The incident happened when the police went to an apartment in Cyrus on a Saturday evening in response to a domestic violence call. When the officers faced Nygard, he pulled out a gun and started shooting, resulting in a dangerous gunfight that led to his death.
Deputies Downed in Shocking Turn of Events
The situation got worse quickly when Nygard found out he was going to be arrested. According to the authorities, Nygard was sitting at a table at first but then stood up, took out a gun, and started shooting. This surprising move led to a serious gun battle.
In the chaos, Deputy Josh Owen and Deputy Brody Merrill were both hit. Owen got shot three times and sadly didn’t survive, while Merrill got wounded in the upper chest but survived. Officer Alex Olson, who was also there, got hit in the ankle.
NEW: The BCA has identified 34-year-old Bryan Nygard as the man who killed Pope County Deputy Josh Owen. Nygard also died during the incident. pic.twitter.com/yhin288mzm
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) April 19, 2023
Impact on the Community
The event deeply affected the community, especially the police family. Deputy Owen, who lost his life on his 44th birthday, was a well-respected member of the Sheriff’s Office, serving for 12 years and having 14 years of overall law enforcement experience.
He leaves behind his wife and son. His death and the details of the shootout have highlighted the dangers that law enforcement officers face while doing their job.
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Public and Family Reactions
The reaction to the incident was marked by grief and solidarity. Deputy Owen’s widow, expressing her sentiments, requested Minnesota Governor Tim Walz not to attend her husband’s funeral, citing his perceived lack of support for law enforcement.
This decision was supported by her family, who believed this was what Deputy Owen would have wanted. Meanwhile, the community expressed its respect and remembrance for Deputy Owen, with flags in Minnesota ordered to be flown at half-staff in his honor.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
After the incident, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) started looking into what happened. They found a gun, bullets, and shell casings at the location.
The three officers who were there had body cameras, and once the investigation is finished, the videos from these cameras will be made public. The results of the investigation will be given to the Morrison County Attorney’s Office for examination.
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