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 Examiner’s Office has identified the deceased person from yesterday’s shooting near Willmar, as Jerome Skluzacek, 55, of New London, MN.
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s 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 Sheriff’s 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
18-year-old Kyler Naely charged for the murder in shooting death of 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams
An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged in a deadly shooting that occurred in October, which claimed the life of a 16-year-old and injured another.
The incident began on October 6, 2024, shortly after 12:45 a.m., when officers were called to a shooting on I-244 near Yale Avenue.
Upon arrival, they discovered a gray SUV riddled with bullet holes and shattered windows. Investigators determined that seven people were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Two occupants of the vehicle suffered gunshot wounds.
One victim, 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams, sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them several weeks later. The other victim suffered a minor gunshot wound to the arm and survived.
Preliminary investigations revealed the incident was linked to a fight at the Tulsa State Fair earlier that evening.
Witnesses reported that the altercation, which occurred as the group was leaving the fairgrounds, likely escalated into the highway shooting.
Following an in-depth investigation, Tulsa Police Homicide Detectives identified 18-year-old Kyler Naely as the suspect responsible for the shooting.
On November 19, 2024, Naely was arrested, charged with first-degree murder, and booked into the Tulsa County Jail.
Authorities emphasize that the case remains under investigation and are urging anyone with additional information to contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.