Two Stillwater police officers have been cleared of criminal charges for the use of deadly force against an active shooter, Okwan Rahmier Sims, 21, which took place on March 4, 2023. After a thorough investigation and weighing the evidence, the Washington County Attorney’s Office declined to press charges against Sergeant Dan Young and Officer Justin Dowley for their actions that day. The decision was based on over 2,000 pages of documents presented by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on July 31. 

The incident took place at the Curve Crest Villas apartment complex in the 2200 block of Orleans Street West in Stillwater. At 2:20 p.m. that day, several 911 calls came in reporting multiple gunshots being fired within the building. When Oak Park Heights police officer Lindsey Paradise arrived, her squad car was struck by gunfire from Sims and she immediately radioed for backup. 

When other officers arrived around 2:45 p.m., they spotted Sims in the apartment complex driveway, holding a pistol with an extended magazine. Upon confronting him and demanding he drop the gun, Sims fled around the corner of the building. As officers gathered ballistic shields and rifles to follow him, Sims fired 20-30 9mm rounds in quick succession in their direction. 

As they approached him, Sims pointed his gun at them and Young and Dowley both fired. Sims was struck three times, falling to the ground. Police and EMS then rendered aid to Sims, but he ultimately died on the scene. 

After the incident, police learned that Sims was a resident of the apartment complex, living with his mother. That afternoon, he had walked out of his bedroom in the apartment and shot his mother’s friend in the knee without explanation. After that shooting, he left the building and began firing outside; 51 cartridge casings from Sims’ pistol were recovered at the scene. Two squad cars sustained damage from the gunfire, but no officers or other members of the public were injured. 

Dowley did not have a body camera on at the time of the incident, as he was not scheduled to start his shift until 3 p.m., but other officers did, recording the incident as it unfolded. 

Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson commented on the case, saying “The decision to use deadly force is never taken lightly, and we recognize the profound sorrow it brings to the family of Mr. Sims. In this situation, these officers faced a dangerous, complex, and rapidly evolving scenario. They relied on their extensive training and quick reaction to ensure not only their own safety, but the safety of the community they have sworn to protect.” He added, “These officers really had no other option, and we know they too bear the weight of the loss of life.”