DEVILS LAKE -- Police have released the name of the officer who fatally shot a Devils Lake man in early July.

The Devils Lake Police Department identified Detective Brandon Potts as the man who killed 26-year-old Daniel Aaron Fuller during a chase July 5 through the Southview Estates mobile home park.

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Chief Joe Knowski said Potts, who has been with the department for 10 years, waived his rights under Marsy’s Law, which was cited as the reason for withholding his name.

The Police Department said Fuller ran from officers who were responding to reports of a man breaking into a mobile home. Officers said Fuller matched the description of the suspect.

Potts and another officer, both in street clothes, later found Fuller lying on the ground, according to Knowski. A struggle ensued and Potts’ weapon discharged.

The other officer, who was off duty, was attempting to call emergency responders before the shooting because Fuller injured himself, Fuller’s family told the Herald. Fuller was not armed, Knowski said.



Potts, who was on duty during the shooting, is on paid administrative leave.

An autopsy report obtained by the Herald found Fuller had blunt force trauma injuries on his head and was shot in the back of his skull.

Fuller’s sister, Allyson Bartlett, said state Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents told her family video from a police car dash cam appears to show Potts pistol-whipping Fuller three times before shooting him. His mother, Marla Fuller, said investigators also said her son was sitting with his hands out “like he was surrendering” before being shot.

The gunshot was “apparently inadvertent,” but the injury was "inflicted by another person during an intentional and harmful act directed at the decedent" and found "the manner of death was certified as homicide,” according to the autopsy report.

The UND Forensic Pathology Practice Center ruled Fuller’s death a homicide, which means the death was caused by a person, Grand Forks County Coroner Mary Ann Sens said. She stressed the findings do not necessarily “indicate a criminal homicide, which is determined by a legal process.”

The family said the BCI won’t show them video of the shooting since it is part of an active investigation, but agents described it to them.

Knowski confirmed it was recorded by a camera in a police vehicle.

The BCI does not comment on ongoing criminal investigation, spokeswoman Liz Brocker said as she deferred questions to the Ramsey County State’s Attorney Office.

Ramsey County State’s Attorney Kari Agotness said evidence is being analyzed further before deciding whether criminal charges are warranted. That includes information that would determine whether there was a struggle, Knowski said.

Fuller’s family has called for criminal charges to be brought against the officer who fired the gun.