December 03, 2025
Back to all stories

Plymouth officer shoots armed man after disturbance

A Plymouth police officer shot a man following a reported domestic disturbance; the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the officer as Jacob Coopet, a 23‑year law enforcement veteran, and the man as 44‑year‑old Atanas Hristev of Champlin. BCA says Hristev pointed a handgun at Officer Coopet before the officer fired, investigators recovered a handgun, spent shell casings and squad‑car video, Hristev is hospitalized in stable condition, and the BCA will present its findings to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office without making charging recommendations.

Public Safety Legal

📌 Key Facts

  • The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating an officer-involved use-of-force incident in Plymouth.
  • The BCA identified the officer as Jacob Coopet, a law enforcement veteran with 23 years' experience, and the man shot as 44-year-old Atanas Hristev of Champlin.
  • According to the BCA, Hristev pointed a handgun at Officer Coopet before the officer fired.
  • Evidence recovered at the scene includes a handgun, spent shell casings, and squad-car video.
  • Hristev remains hospitalized in stable condition.
  • The BCA will present its findings to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and will not make charging recommendations.

📊 Relevant Data

From 2017 to 2021, Black Minnesotans, who make up 7% of the population, accounted for 22% of deaths during encounters with law enforcement in Minnesota, making them more than 4 times as likely to die in such encounters compared to White Minnesotans.

Minnesotans of color more likely to die during police encounters than whites, new state study finds — Sahan Journal

From 2017 to 2021, Indigenous Minnesotans, who make up 1% of the population, accounted for 6% of deaths during encounters with law enforcement in Minnesota, making them nearly 6 times as likely to die in such encounters compared to White Minnesotans.

Minnesotans of color more likely to die during police encounters than whites, new state study finds — Sahan Journal

In 2024, Black individuals accounted for 27.5% of all arrests in Minnesota.

2024 BCA Uniform Crime Report — Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

In 2024, Black individuals were the offenders in 98 out of 170 homicide cases in Minnesota.

2024 BCA Uniform Crime Report — Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

The racial makeup of Plymouth, Minnesota, according to the 2020 census, is 73.2% White, 10% Asian, 4.97% Black or African American, and 5.9% two or more races.

Plymouth, MN | Data USA — Data USA

📰 Sources (2)

BCA identifies officer, suspect in Plymouth use-of-force incident
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Jeff.Wald@fox.com (Jeff Wald) December 02, 2025
New information:
  • BCA identified the officer as Jacob Coopet, a 23-year law enforcement veteran.
  • BCA identified the man who was shot as 44-year-old Atanas Hristev of Champlin.
  • BCA says Hristev pointed a handgun at Officer Coopet before the officer fired.
  • Evidence recovered at the scene includes a handgun, spent shell casings, and squad-car video.
  • Hristev remains hospitalized in stable condition.
  • BCA will present its findings to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and will not make charging recommendations.
Plymouth police officer shoots armed man following domestic disturbance
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Jeff.Wald@fox.com (Jeff Wald) November 25, 2025