Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Brandt Williams
Minneapolis

Defense expert: Minneapolis cop was right to shoot into car

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Updated: 6 p.m. | Posted: 1:23 p.m.

Officer Efrem Hamilton acted "objectively reasonable" when he fired at a car full of people on Nov. 19, 2016. That's according to defense witness Brooklyn Park Deputy Chief Mark Bruley.

Narrating Hamilton's squad car video as it was shown in court Wednesday, Bruley testified it appears to him the grey BMW sedan backing toward the officer accelerated before it struck the squad. Bruley said the suspect BMW appeared to briefly push the squad backward just before Hamilton exited the car and fired once. No one was hit.

Bruley said Hamilton made the right move.

"We train officers to stop threats not kill people," said Bruley. "When the threat was gone, the shooting stopped."

Hamilton testified Tuesday that he believed the driver of the car was going to get out and shoot at him first.

Bruley, who has developed a use of force evaluation system at the Brooklyn Park Police Department, said Hamilton drove into a chaotic, active shooter situation that was not yet under control.

Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Tara Ferguson-Lopez said there was no dispatch call characterizing the incident as an active shooter. And Ferguson-Lopez said there were no more reports of shots fired between the time Hamilton responded to the call to when he arrived.

Hamilton has been charged with three criminal counts connected to the shooting.

In closing arguments, Ferguson-Lopez said Hamilton's use of force was excessive and unreasonable. She said he was in no danger.

She pointed to the testimony of several other officers at the scene who encountered other grey sedans, which matched the suspect description. Those officers, she said, didn't fire their weapons.

Defense attorney Fred Bruno told jurors that they have to base their decision on what Hamilton perceived and knew about the situation as it unfolded. As far as the officer knew, Bruno said, that shooter was still at large. Officers were all around with guns drawn. He'd also heard a radio dispatch that at least one person was wounded.

Bruno said the prosecution is trying portray Hamilton as some kind of cowboy. He said had Hamilton really been reckless, he would have fired more shots. He did have a full magazine of 15 bullets left after he fired the first shot.

The trial continues on Friday with the remaining closing arguments, after which the jury will get the case.