Police Officer Accidentally Shoots Fleeing Motorcyclist

 A high-speed police chase in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, ended in a controversial and accidental shooting when Sergeant Lonnie Soppeland unintentionally fired his weapon, striking a fleeing suspect in the arm. The shooting occurred on June 20, 2015, following a dangerous pursuit involving speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour. The suspect, identified as Matthew Hovland-Knase, had been riding a motorcycle when he led police on the chase.

After pulling over, Hovland-Knase stopped the motorcycle and got off, at which point Sgt. Soppeland exited his squad car with his service weapon already drawn. What happened next was captured on video: a gunshot rings out, followed by Soppeland shouting an expletive, and Hovland-Knase immediately crying out in pain, saying, “I’m bleeding.”

Realizing he had discharged his firearm, Soppeland quickly shifted into aid mode. Within seconds, he retrieved medical supplies and began administering first aid to the wounded man. The officer can be heard apologizing multiple times during the video. Hovland-Knase, despite being in pain, seemed to accept the explanation. “Oh, you actually shot me, didn’t ya?” he asked. Soppeland replied, “I’m not going to say anything right now, but it was not intentional. I can tell you that.” Hovland-Knase responded, “I know it wasn’t.”

Following the incident, Hovland-Knase was charged and later convicted of fleeing an officer, as confirmed by court records. The shooting itself, however, sparked an internal investigation by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether any policy violations or misconduct had occurred.

Three days after the incident, Sgt. Soppeland provided a formal statement to detectives. He explained that the shooting was not a conscious action. “As I was giving commands, I drew my firearm with my right hand. I planned to steady it with my left hand,” he said. “When my hands made contact, the firearm discharged once unintentionally. It was not my conscious choice... I could feel the effect of the adrenaline.”

During the interview, the detective inquired whether recent firearms training might have played a role in the accidental discharge. Soppeland had undergone live-fire weapons training just 20 days before the incident, during which he reportedly fired between 50 and 100 rounds. Soppeland acknowledged that it may have had an impact, stating, “Yes, I feel the muscle memory from that recent training of squeezing the trigger contributed to the unintentional discharge during a high-stress situation.”

This claim raised eyebrows among some law enforcement professionals. While several officers and firearm instructors interviewed later said that high-stress encounters can indeed lead to mistakes, few had heard of previous accidental shootings being attributed—at least in part—to muscle memory from recent training. The suggestion highlights an often-debated issue in law enforcement: how officers respond under pressure and the fine line between reflex and deliberate action.

Experts in law enforcement training acknowledge that high-stress scenarios such as pursuits and armed confrontations can impair decision-making. Under the influence of adrenaline, officers may act on instinct or training patterns without fully processing their actions in real-time. However, the concept of “muscle memory” causing an unintentional discharge remains controversial and largely anecdotal.

The case underscores the complexity of police work in fast-moving, high-risk situations. Even well-trained officers like Sgt. Soppeland—who responded swiftly to render aid and took responsibility for the mistake—can be involved in tragic and unintended outcomes. The incident did not lead to criminal charges against Soppeland, and his quick response to treat Hovland-Knase likely helped to prevent more serious injury.

In the end, the event served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of law enforcement and the importance of continual review and refinement of training methods. Whether muscle memory played a direct role or not, the shooting raised important questions about how officers are prepared for the rare but critical moments when lives are on the line.