BCA identifies officer, man killed in Austin officer-involved shooting

(ABC 6 News) The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the officer and the man killed in an officer-involved shooting last week.

The officer has been identified as Zachary Gast. Gast has been with the department for two years and is currently on administrative leave.

The man killed during the incident has been identified as 38-year-old Kokou Christopher Fiafonou of Austin. A press release from the BCA said Fiafonou died by homicide due to "multiple" gunshot wounds. According to the press release a knife was located at the scene near his body.

The Austin Police Department does not use body-worn cameras but the BCA said cameras in police squad cars were able to capture portions of the incident.

The BCA’s investigation of the officer-involved shooting is ongoing. When the investigation is complete, the BCA will provide its findings without recommendation to the Mower County Attorney’s Office for review.