Shane Netterville

Date: 7/8/2022            Location: Fargo, ND              FACTORS (1,2,3,4,8,11,19) 

Name: Shane Netterville                               

Criminal History/Involved: Yes, since 2012 Netterville had numerous arrests and convictions for drugs, DUI and domestic violence. / Yes, Netterville was driving a stolen van which contained drugs in it.

Mental Illness: Yes, Netterville had anger control issues and was described by a victim as having “extremely violent tendencies.”

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Netterville has prior drug related arrests for meth and has been through drug rehabilitation. / Yes, there were drugs present in the van Netterville was driving during the incident.

Race/Sex/Age: Native American/Male/28

Officer(s) involved: Three Fargo Police Department Police Officers                                

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 8:07 a.m. on July 8, 2022, Fargo police officers responded to a 911 call of “people slumped over in a van that was parked in a garage.” Upon arrival at that garage the officers encountered a van parked facing out and occupied by Shane Netterville who was in the driver’s seat along with two male passengers. Observing a bullet hole in the van’s windshield and fearing there was a homicide involved, the officers unholstered their weapons and ordered the men to put their hands up.

Actions taken by subject towards police: Netterville put his hands up and then brought them down before turning the ignition on. Despite the officer’s and even his two accomplices telling Netterville to comply, he hit the gas first slowly and then quickly accelerating at the officers.  

Reactions by the police: PO Adam O’Brien shot Netterville once in the chest as he and the other officers jumped out of the way to avoid being run over.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley determined deadly force was justified and announced he “will not file criminal charges against Officer Adam O’Brien.”

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Netterville could still e alive today if he: wasn’t slumped over in a stolen van causing someone to be concerned and call 911; complied with the officers’ commands and kept his hands up in the air; not turned the van on and accelerated at the officers.

Miscellaneous: A woman who knows Netterville’s history of violence guaranteed “this wasn’t a trigger happy incident” and “witnesses described the van driving toward officers with an intent to hit the police.”

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, as DA Wrigley said, “O'Brien's actions were justified because they were meant to protect himself, officers around him and the public.”