TURTLE MOUNTAIN RESERVATION — A Belcourt man was fatally shot by a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer Sunday morning, Dec. 29.
Alysia LaCounte, tribal counsel for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, confirmed Jordan Parisien to be the deceased.
"We don't have a lot of information, because it's under investigation," LaCounte said.
The shooting took place on Highway Five, or Highway 281, in front of Sky Dancer Casino, she said. Three BIA officers were on scene, but only one fired their weapon.
Original reports were that gunfire was exchanged between Parisien and police, but it has since been determined that Parisien did not fire a weapon, LaCounte said.
He was reported to police as an armed, suicidal person.
When law enforcement observed him driving erratically, they ordered him out of the vehicle. Parisien was shot an undetermined number of times. It's unclear why the officer fired.
An internal investigation will be done at the BIA Office of Justice Services, but the primary investigation is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Herald has made records requests related to the incident and those involved.