UPDATE: Victim Identified in Aitkin Co. Officer-Involved Shooting

Authorities have released the name of a woman who was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers near Aitkin last week. 

The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office identified the woman as 50-year-old Denise Fairchild, of Aitkin. 

According to the medical examiner, Fairchild died of a gunshot wound to the torso. 

The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office was called around 4:25 p.m. on March 29 to conduct a welfare check on Fairchild, who was suicidal. 

Police located her vehicle and followed her to 340th Place near Highway 210 and Highway 169 in Fleming Township.  A Minnesota DNR Conservation officer also responded to the scene. 

When authorities arrived, Fairchild stayed in her car and displayed a firearm, threatening to harm herself. 

Over the next 90 minutes, officers attempted to convince her to discard her weapons. Police say at one point, she got out of the car.  At least twice during the exchange, the woman fired shots at the officers. 

Officers returned fire, striking the woman. 

The officers attempted to render first aid at the scene.  The woman was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where she later died. 

Aitkin County Deputies Lawrence Derksen and Greg Payment, along with Minnesota DNR Conservation officer Jeff Koehn have all been placed on standard administrative leave. 

The incident remains under investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.