Clint Hoyhtya Obituary: Armed law enforcement officers conducted an extensive search in the vicinity of East Crestwood Drive, following an incident where a suspect shot and injured two Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies who were executing a warrant at a residence in Minnetonka on April 10, 2024.
The individual who engaged in a gun battle with Hennepin County deputies on Wednesday, resulting in his death and the injury of two deputies, was not the target of the arrest warrant that the officers were executing.
Clint Hoyhtya, aged 28, was identified as the individual who lost his life during the exchange of gunfire that occurred soon before 11:30 a.m. when law enforcement officers arrived at his residence on E. Crestwood Drive in the 13400 block.
However, both emergency dispatch audio and a reliable law enforcement source have verified that his name was not mentioned in the warrant. The two deputies wounded during the exchange of gunfire are anticipated to recover.
According to Sheriff Dawanna Witt, one individual was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. The second individual received medical attention for gunshot wounds and was subsequently discharged at the location.
During the media briefing, law enforcement leaders refrained from disclosing specific information regarding the incident, such as the events leading up to the shooting, the party responsible for initiating the gunfire, and the cause of death of the individual identified as armed, whether it was due to deputy gunfire or self-inflicted.
As of late Thursday afternoon, there are at least three current arrest warrants for the 34-year-old male. Two of the charges pertain to the violation of domestic violence no-contact orders, while the third charge is related to the possession of illegal firearms.
According to court records, the most recent one was issued just one day before the cops arrived at the Minnetonka residence. The Star Tribune is refraining from disclosing the man’s identity as he has not yet been formally accused in relation to the shooting incident.
According to dispatch audio, Hoyhtya was reported to be wearing body armor and was found with a “AK variant” firearm, which refers to a powerful type of weapon, next to his body after the shooting incident. “The suspect was subdued in the yard after shooting at us.
At that time, we were giving him commands,” as stated in the tape. The audio also described a prolonged situation where Hoyhtya’s body was left in the yard until law enforcement could confirm, using robots and cameras, that there were no other individuals present in the residence.
Initially, Thomas Hoyhtya, the father who is the owner of the residence, described his son’s death as “suicide by cop.” During the transmission of emergency dispatch audio, an officer explicitly said that the “Caucasian individual [is] incapacitated on the surface,” in reference to Clint Hoyhtya.
Shortly after that initial transmission, another one quickly came, stating that the warrant specified the target of the search as a Black guy. The individual in question is a Caucasian male. We are currently in the process of determining whether there are any remaining suspects. I wanted to inform you of this.
Currently, the BCA is at the forefront of the investigation into the shooting. According to Bonney Bowman, a spokesperson for the agency, she expects to provide an update early next week.
The incident occurred two months subsequent to the lethal killing of two Burnsville police officers and a medic who had responded to a domestic violence call, which was followed by an extended standoff.
Under those circumstances, an armed individual had taken refuge inside the residence alongside a woman and seven minors. He perished by self-inflicting a fatal wound with his weapon.
As further information about the shooting on Wednesday was being revealed, Governor Tim Walz described it as “another appalling incident” when a law enforcement officer in Minnesota was harmed while performing their duties.
Walz emphasized that the recent incident, following the tragic events in Burnsville where three first responders were lost, highlights the urgent need for state leaders to allocate funds towards public safety. This is crucial to ensure that law enforcement agencies can effectively carry out their duties in order to prevent such incidents from occurring.
In the wake of this tragic incident, we extend our deepest condolences to the families affected by this heart-wrenching loss. As they grapple with the indescribable pain of bidding farewell to their loved ones, we share in their sorrow and stand in solidarity during this time of profound grief.
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