Timeline: Details of the police officer's shooting in Cold Spring
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Police have released few details about the fatal shooting Thursday of Cold Spring police officer Tom Decker. Here is a timeline based on statements from law enforcement officials and media interviews:
9 p.m. Thursday: The Stearns County Sheriff's Office receives "calls of concern from the family of Ryan Larson that he was potentially suicidal," according to Sheriff John Sanner.
"A short time later:" Cold Spring police officers arrived at Larson's residence but "failed to make contact" with Larson, Sanner said.
One hour and 45 minutes later: Officer Decker and another officer return to Larson's residence. "Decker left his squad car and a very short time later was confronted by an armed individual, shot twice, and died," Sanner said.
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12:15 a.m. Friday: Larson is arrested and booked into the Stearns County jail.
Friday morning: Law enforcement officials at a news conference discuss the shooting. BCA assistant superintendent Drew Evans identifies Larson as the "subject of the welfare check" and confirms Larson was taken into custody and interviewed by deputies at some point after the shooting. The preliminary investigation found that Decker "was ambushed at the scene," Evans says.
A reporter asks if there are any other suspects. Evans replies, "We don't have any information to believe that at this time, but it's in the early stages of the investigation."
Law enforcement officials, citing the active investigation, decline to say:
• Whether Decker ever took his gun out of its holster.
• Where Decker was hit, although they did say he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
• Whether Decker's partner was in the squad car when the shooting took place.
• What Decker's partner did after the shooting.
• Whether they found the gun that killed Decker.
They also do not mention when other law enforcement officers arrived at the scene or whether Larson was arrested at his residence or somewhere else.
Saturday afternoon: The Stearns County Sheriff's Office releases a statement saying investigators believe a 20-gauge shotgun was used to kill Decker, according to the Star Tribune. The statement asks Cold Spring residents to search their yards for the weapon.
Sunday: Larson tells the St. Cloud Times that he did not kill Decker. "Basically, they have no evidence whatsoever that points in my direction," Larson said during a jail phone call to the newspaper. (The account was published Tuesday.)
Monday: A judge grants a prosecutor's request to hold Larson in jail for an additional 24 hours.
Tuesday: Larson is released from jail without being charged. Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall said she did not have enough evidence to charge Larson and that the investigation continues.
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