Crime
55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek killed after shooting near Willmar in Minneapolis
The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody by authorities.
UPDATE: The Midwest Medical Examinerโs Office has identified the deceased person from yesterdayโs shooting near Willmar, as Jerome Skluzacek, 55, of New London, MN.
Kandiyohi County Sheriffโs Office spokesperson, Imran Ali statedthat the victim from the shooting near Lake Lillian is in stable condition and is expected to survive.
He has been identified as Peter Mayerchak, 25, of Lake Lillian, MN.
The suspect has been identified as Ameer Matariyeh, 25, of Minneapolis, MN.
This investigation is still ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff and several of his Deputies were witnesses to this violent incident.
As such, no comments on these tragedies will be made by the Sheriffโs Office.
Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy during this difficult time. The deputies and other law enforcement officers that responded and apprehended the suspect risked their lives to protect their communities. These women and men are true heroes.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A tragic series of events unfolded on Tuesday, beginning with a shooting incident in Minneapolis and culminating in a fatal shooting near Willmar.
The incident began around 12:30 PM when Minneapolis police responded to reports of gunfire at an apartment building on the 2900 block of Lyndale Avenue South.
Witnesses reported seeing a man firing shots from a balcony.
Officers discovered two victims at the scene: the suspect’s ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend.
A child shared by the ex-girlfriend and the suspect was thankfully safe at a daycare facility, which was immediately placed on lockdown.
The suspect fled the scene, leading police on a lengthy chase that extended into western Minnesota. In Kandiyohi County, the suspect shot and injured a man at a rural residence.
Law enforcement pursued the suspect to the Highway 71/23 bypass southeast of Willmar, where he attempted a carjacking and fatally shot the driver.
The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody by authorities.
He is currently being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail on multiple charges, including murder.
The victim of the shooting near Willmar has been identified as 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek of New London.
The victim of the shooting near Lake Lillian, a 25-year-old man from Lake Lillian, is in stable condition and expected to survive.
The suspect, a 25-year-old man from Minneapolis, has not been formally charged at this time.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the incident and has requested that the public respect the privacy of the victims and their families during this difficult time.
The sheriff’s office also acknowledged the bravery and dedication of the law enforcement officers who responded to the incident and apprehended the suspect, risking their own lives to protect the community.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA โ A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple Universityโs campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple Universityโs Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
โThe loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victimโs family and loved ones.โ
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victimโs last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individualโs involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.