The officers involved in a shooting that happened Saturday night in Wadena County and left two people dead have been identified.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the officers as:
- Deputy Troy Mayer, an 11-year veteran of the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office. Mayer discharged his Taser. He suffered a gunshot wound that was not considered life-threatening.
- Officer Jason Worm, a 10-year veteran of the Sebeka Police Department. Worm discharged his firearm during the incident. He was also struck by gunfire in his bullet-resistant vest but wasn’t injured.
The two men who died in the shooting as 42-year-old David Jay Savela and his brother, 36-year-old Shannon Michael Savela, both of Sebeka. The cause of death for both was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds according to the medical examiner’s report.
Mayer attempted to pull over David Savela’s vehicle for speeding at about 8:48 p.m. near 205th Avenue and 280th Avenue in North Germany Township. Savela didn’t stop and a brief pursuit ensued. It ended when Savela’s vehicle became stuck in snow. Savela resisted arrest, and was armed. Deputy Mayer attempted to use a taser, which had no effect. A struggle ensued between Mayer and David Savela. Shannon Savela had arrived on scene and was asked to leave.
The BCA said Shannon Savela then moved to the passenger side of Mayer’s squad and began shooting, striking both Mayer and Worm, who both retreated to the passenger side of David Savela’s car. David Savela also then got up and pointed a gun at the officers, the BCA said, and Worm fired at him, striking David Savela.
Portions of the incident were captured on dash cameras and a deputy-worn body camera, according to the BCA, and crime scene personnel recovered guns from near both David Savela’s and Shannon Savela’s bodies.
The BCA’s investigation remains ongoing.