What to know
- Body camera footage shows a suspected arsonist firing at five St. Louis County deputies, who returned fire, fatally striking him after he set multiple fires and booby-trapped his property.
- The suspect had reportedly sprayed a neighbor with gasoline, set three homes on fire and shot at a firefighter and police officer before deputies arrived.
- Authorities recovered improvised weapons, including 12 homemade shotgun devices and a modified lawnmower flamethrower.
By Tom Olsen
Source Duluth News Tribune, Minn.
DULUTH, MN — Newly released body camera footage shows the fatal shooting of a Normanna Township man who reportedly started several fires before shooting a gun at responding officers.
The graphic footage released by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office captures Adam Clinton Wolf, 57, firing in the direction of five deputies as they approached his residence, 6258 Heritage Road, on the morning of July 15.
All five deputies immediately returned fire — one through the windshield of the pickup truck he was driving, and the others on foot as they took cover around the squad vehicle.
Wolf, according to authorities, had set booby traps around his property, sprayed gasoline on a neighbor, set his own house and two other homes on fire, and is suspected to have shot at a responding firefighter and police officer before the deputies arrived.
"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident, including our deputies, 911 staff and all the fire and emergency personnel who responded, as well as the affected neighbors and family of Mr. Wolf," Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a statement. "We hope the release of this footage provides some clarity as everyone involved attempts to understand this tragic incident."
The incident started around 9:20 a.m., with the first call to 911 reporting that Wolf had sprayed a neighbor with gas and set their house on fire. Another caller indicated he was armed with a "rifle-style weapon" while riding around on a lawnmower.
Wolf, according to authorities, then attempted to light another neighbor's home on fire while his own house was engulfed in flames.
A solo volunteer firefighter was able to extinguish one blaze, while the homeowner put out the second, authorities reported. However, the firefighter reported hearing gunshots and believed he was being shot at.
A Duluth Township police officer also responded and was shot at, but did not return fire, authorities previously reported.
Tuesday's release includes footage from a squad car dash cam and all five deputies' body-worn cameras.
The footage shows Sgt. Zachary Peterson holding a handgun while slowly driving the truck down the narrow road — navigating around an active blaze and an abandoned lawnmower — as deputies Matthew Miranda, Michael Pikul, Forest Lunemann and Charles Bennett are on foot holding long rifles.
Wolf is then seen emerging from the woods with an object in his hands, while deputies shout "Male! Male! Male!" and "Show me your hands! Show me your hands!"
Wolf then raises the weapon toward the deputies and a muzzle flash can be seen. The footage captures all five deputies firing a volley of shots and Wolf being knocked to the ground.
Deputies are immediately heard radioing in the incident, continuing to shout for the incapacitated Wolf to raise his hands and checking themselves for injury before the footage ends. Authorities said he received medical aid, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff's office also revealed Tuesday that "12 homemade shotgun-type devices" were found along the roadway, apparently "intended to shoot first responders as they approached by road."
The video also captures the lawnmower that appeared to be modified to pull a large canister on wheels. Investigators, in a search warrant filed last week, described finding a "mower/flamethrower" at the scene.
The deputies were placed on standard administrative leave, while the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was called in to handle the investigation.
BCA agents obtained search warrants for Wolf's home and vehicle, but the house was a total loss and no evidence of value was found from the vehicle, they indicated in the warrant receipts. A "firearm similar to a shotgun" was collected, along with spent shell casings and the improvised weapons along the road.
The Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service was also expected to produce records related to its response, according to the filings.
While no motive has been publicly identified by authorities, three neighbors had a restraining order against Wolf, and he was awaiting a court hearing for allegedly violating that order for a second time.
Once the investigation is completed, the BCA is expected to turn over its reports to the St. Louis County Attorney's Office for legal review of the deputies' use of force.
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