U.S. Marshal Task Force members will not be facing any chargers for the killing of Winston Smith on June 3, 2021. The members of the North Star Fugitive Task Force attempted to arrest Smith who was wanted for a felony warrant, according to CNN. 

The warrant was issued to Smith due to his failure to appear at a hearing after pleading guilty to a possession of a firearm charge in Ramsey County. 

Donald F. Ryan, Crow Wing County attorney and chief prosecutor, wrote a letter to attorney Mike Freeman stating as task force members were attempting to arrest Smith, he “initiated a deadly force confrontation” by drawing his handgun and firing at authorities.  

“This resulted in the [task force] using deadly force in response,” Ryan wrote in the letter. “Though I am unable to determine who fired first, it is irrelevant in this case. Once an individual initiates a deadly force confrontation, a law enforcement officer does not have to wait to be shot/shot at before reacting.”  

The victim’s death resulted in protests in Minneapolis, along with his friends and family members demanding body cam footage of the shooting. However, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said there is no footage of the shooting.  

“The US Marshal Service currently does not allow the use of body cameras for officers serving on its North Star Fugitive Task Force. There is no squad camera footage of the incident,” the department said. 

The members who shot Smith were working undercover and their names were not released.