Three St. Paul police officers were legally justified when they fatally shot a woman in a home last May, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Officers responded May 6 to a person who called 911 and screamed, “My daughter is committing suicide!,” according to a transcript of the call. The home was in the 1100 block of East Rose Avenue in the Payne-Phalen area.
Body camera footage released by police soon after showed that officers went in a room of the home, and the woman who was reportedly feeling suicidal pulled a gun from under a blanket and pointed it at officers. Three officers shot the 41-year-old woman.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman who died as Pepsi Heinl, which her family said was her married name. They referred to her as Pepsi Benjamin.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigated and referred the case to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
After their review, prosecutors wrote a 26-page memo, concluding the use of deadly force was justified under Minnesota law. County Attorney John Choi wrote that he agreed with their conclusion.
“Like so many, this is a sad and tragic case for all of those involved,” Choi wrote in the memo. “The events that transpired on May 6, 2024, will forever impact all of those that loved Pepsi Lee Heinl and the three officers who had no other reasonable choice to do something different under these circumstances. We all wish there could have been a different outcome.”
The officers who shot Benjamin were identified as Chee Lao, Yengkong Lor and Chiking Chazonkhueze.
Suicide prevention help
People who are in crisis can call 988 or text “Home” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support from the Crisis Text Line.
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