SAINT PAUL — The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man and woman who died Sunday as the result of a domestic violence and officer use-of-force incident in Marshall. 41-year-old Jamel C. Hill Moore of Marshall died from gunshot wounds and 35-year-old Meredith Martell died from multiple sharp-force injuries.
Officer Eric Klenken with the Marshall Police Department has been identified as the officer who shot Moore during the incident. Officer Klenken has 24 years of law enforcement experience and is on standard administrative leave. Officer Klenken deployed his Taser and fired his handgun in the incident.
According to the preliminary investigation, Klenken responded to a home in Marshall early Sunday morning on reports of a domestic disturbance. When he arrived, a child flagged him down and directed him into the house. A woman could be heard screaming for help in the upstairs bedroom. When Klenken entered the bedroom, Moore was on top of Martell, stabbing her as she laid on the floor of her bedroom closet. Klenken ordered Moore to drop the knife, which he refused. Klenken then tried to stun Moore with a Taser, which appeared to have no effect. After again ordering Moore to drop the knife without response, Klenken shot Moore twice. Three additional Marshall police officers and a Lyon County sheriff’s deputy arrived at the home. They assisted Klenken with providing medical aid to Moore and Martell. Moore died at the scene while Martell died Sunday night at a Sioux Falls hospital. Neither Klenken nor the children in the home at the time of the incident were physically hurt.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered two knives at the scene. Klenken was wearing his body camera during the incident. BCA agents are reviewing the video as part of the active investigation.
The Marshall Police Department asked the BCA to investigate this incident. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without a charging recommendation to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office for review.
