Minnesota Man Stabs Police Officer, Kills Himself By Cutting His Throat Open During Confrontation

A man from Wilmar, Minnesota, during a police confrontation, slit his throat and then stabbed and wounded a police officer. The man died at the scene due to self-inflicted injuries.

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, officers responded to a home in Wilmar early Friday (May 1) after they received a distress call reporting about a domestic incident. Officers Nicole Wortham and Noah Maschino, who responded to the scene, found the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Jose Reyna Lozano, disturbed and angry in his bedroom.

According to the officials, Lozano was holding a knife in one hand and a box cutter in the other. As he saw the deputies approaching, he brought the cutter to his throat and threatened to kill himself.

The officers tried to calm him down but before they could try and help him, he cut his throat open. Officer Wortham immediately fired a stun gun at Lozano in an attempt to stop him from causing more damage to himself.

Lozano immediately jerked and then stabbed Wortham with the knife. He stabbed her in the neck and shoulder. Wortham shot Lozano in the leg as an act of self-defense.

With his throat cut open and a gunshot to the leg, Lozano showed no signs of giving up. He continued to threaten to kill himself and the officers. Maschino then fired a stun gun at Lozano.

The confrontation continued and eventually, Lozano lost consciousness and hit the ground. The self-inflicted injury to his throat was fatal. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was taken out of the house and was later sent for autopsy. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Lozano died of suicide due to a self-inflicted force injury to his neck using a sharp object.

Wortham was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She was released the next day. Both the officers are currently on standard administrative leave.

An unidentified woman who was in the home during the incident also suffered a knife injury. She was treated at a hospital with minor injuries and was later released.

The location of the house and the reason that led Lozano to commit such a shocking act was unclear. The investigation was ongoing and no further details were available at the moment. The BCA on receiving a request from the Willmar Police Department was investigating the case. The body camera on the officers captured portions of the horrifying incident.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.