On July 23, 2024, at approximately 12:47 p.m., the Williston Police Department responded to a call near the 1300 Block of 18th St W concerning an individual armed with a knife. The caller reported a man outside an apartment complex, jabbing a knife at his own heart and at others, expressing concern that the individual might kill himself or others.
Due to the severity of the situation, multiple officers were dispatched to the scene. At approximately 12:51 p.m., Williston Police Officer Jason Barten was the first to arrive and located an individual matching the subject’s description outside the given location, with a knife visible in his hand. The individual was later identified as 31-year-old, Matthew Austin Gullo.
Officer Barten drew his department-issued weapon and began to give verbal commands to Gullo to put the knife down and stay where he was. However, Gullo ignored these commands and began advancing toward the officer, closing the distance between them. Officer Barten warned Gullo that he would be shot, but Gullo persisted, approaching with the knife in his left hand and his right hand concealed behind his body.
After repeated commands were ignored and Gullo continued his approach, Officer Barten discharged his weapon, striking Gullo. Officer Barten immediately requested paramedics to respond to the scene. In a further attempt to dislodge the knife from Gullo’s hand, a second responding officer, Alex Williams, deployed his less-lethal launcher. This measure was taken to ensure the officers’ safety and allow them to administer emergency medical aid to Mr. Gullo.
Although the less lethal device made contact with Gullo’s hand, the knife remained. His lack of response to the impact led officers to believe he might be unable to attack if approached. Officers approached and manually removed the knife from Gullo’s hand. Officers immediately began administering life-saving measures as emergency medical personnel were enroute. Gullo was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the reporting party in the initial call was, in fact, Matthew Gullo himself. Unknown to dispatch and responding officers at the time, Gullo was describing himself and his own actions, as if he was an uninvolved bystander. Officers responded to the report that was given, that there was an active and dangerous situation, involving an individual threatening themself and others with a knife.
As standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting, Officer Barten was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
A comprehensive review process was completed to ensure the integrity of the investigation. The Williston Police Department conducted its own internal investigation to assess compliance with departmental policies and procedures. Additionally, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was requested to independently review the use of force involved in the incident.
To maintain impartiality, the Williams County State’s Attorney’s Office requested that the case be reviewed by an external prosecutor. The State’s Attorney’s Office of Divide County conducted this review to eliminate any potential bias.
Following a comprehensive review, Divide County State’s Attorney Seymour R. Jordan found that Officer Barten’s conduct was justified, and no charges were filed by the State’s Attorney’s Office. Officer Barten acted in compliance with local laws, as well as department policies regarding the use of deadly force. He has been reinstated to full duty without restrictions.
The Williston Police Department remains committed to providing the highest level of service in partnership with the community and appreciates the continued support. The loss of life is always tragic, and we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Matthew Gullo during this difficult time.
The Williston Police Department will not be sharing the dashcam or body cam videos publicly, however, the video has been released via a records request to outside sources required by law. No further information is available at this time.
Reader Comments(0)