POLK COUNTY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – The Polk County Attorney’s Office has cleared East Grand Forks Police Sgt. Aeisso Schrage of any wrongdoing in the January 9 shooting death of 42-year-old Lucas Paul Gilbertson. Following a comprehensive investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), it was determined that Schrage’s use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances.
The incident unfolded when Gilbertson, who had multiple outstanding warrants and a history of evading arrest, fled from a cabin in Rhinehart Township. Officers were alerted that he was armed and dangerous. Despite multiple warnings to surrender, Gilbertson pointed a loaded revolver at Sgt. Schrage, who responded by firing his weapon after a failed attempt to tase him. Unbeknownst to Schrage, Gilbertson had thrown the revolver out of a window just moments before charging at the officer.
In a letter to the BCA, Polk County Attorney Greg Widseth concluded that the shooting was a tragic but necessary action, emphasizing that officers are not required to wait for a suspect to shoot first. Gilbertson’s refusal to comply with commands and his actions, including pointing a weapon at officers, ultimately led to the fatal outcome.
Despite suggestions from some individuals that Sgt. Schrage intended to kill Gilbertson from the outset, Widseth stated that there is no evidence to support such claims. Schrage was holding only his taser when he initially entered the home and was among the first to attempt life-saving measures after the shooting.
Gilbertson had been facing over a dozen criminal charges, including theft, firearm possession, and drug-related offenses, and was considered a serious flight risk.