A teenager is charged with shooting a deputy during a struggle at a home in Max, Minn. on Monday, May 4th

Itasca County deputies went to a home on Davidson Road around 2:09 p.m. on Monday, May 4, to arrest a teenager. Elias Alexander Harper, who had missed court hearings. The teenager’s grandmother tried unsuccessfully to get him to come outside before letting Deputy Michael Cowan inside.

Deputy Cowan found the teenager in the kitchen, where he was pushing another adult. The deputy tried to arrest the teenager, who initially complied but then began fighting, pulling away and swinging his arms to try to get away.

The deputy felt a tug at his right hip where his gun was holstered. Body camera footage showed the teenager reaching for the deputy’s right side. The gun then fired while still in the holster, hitting Deputy Cowan in the right thigh.

Deputy Nicholas O’Toole ran inside after hearing the gunshot and helped subdue the teenager, who continued to resist arrest and made several statements.

After being tased, the teenager was eventually handcuffed and taken to jail. Deputy Cowan was treated at the scene and airlifted to a Duluth hospital with a through-and-through gunshot wound. The tourniquet applied by Deputy O’Toole stopped the bleeding. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension took over the investigation.

DNA by the BCA testing later found the teenager’s DNA on the grip of the deputy’s gun.

The teenager now faces four felony charges: first-degree assault causing great bodily harm to a peace officer, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, obstructing legal process with risk of harm, and attempting to disarm a peace officer.