ST. PETER – St. Peter Police Officer Austin Buss returned home to Le Center Friday after being released from the hospital after sustaining injuries is a shooting incident on Thursday, June 18.

Officer Buss was shot in the left forearm with a shotgun after a routine traffic stop on Highway 169 led to a police chase and later an armed standoff at the 2100 block of Bunker Lane in St. Peter.

According to the BCA’s investigation, officers with the Mankato Police Department were pursuing a vehicle that fled into the city of St. Peter and stopped at the 2100 block of Bunker Lane. The driver, later identified as Jordan Michael Donahue, 21, exited the vehicle and fled into the home of an acquaintance.

Officers encountered an adult female and a juvenile inside the residence and escorted them outside. Officers then entered the home to search for Donahue. While attempting to go up a stairwell to the second floor, Donahue fired a shotgun down the stairwell from the second floor, striking Officer Buss in the arm and ballistic vest. Officer Buss was able to return fire along Nicollet County Sgt. Dustin Struckman, before exiting the home to seek medical care for Officer Buss.

Officers secured the home and attempted to get Doanhue to surrender. After an extended period without contact from Donahue, the officer flew a drone into the home and found him dead from a gunshot injury.

Buss was initially transported to River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic and later airlifted to the Twin Cities for initial treatment. He was listed in stable condition on Friday, June 19.

Buss was released from a Minneapolis hospital on Friday, June 26. He was escorted home by law enforcement officers from numerous jurisdictions in a procession traveling south on Highway 169 through Saint Peter on route to his home in Le Center.

Buss has been placed on critical incident leave following the shooting incident and is still listed in recovery.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a shotgun and spent casings from inside the home. Body-worn cameras were in use and captured portions of this incident.

The St. Peter Police Department requested the BCA investigate the use-of-force. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation on charges to the Nicollet County Attorney’s Office for review.