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
Who was Jesse Strang? Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooting Suspect Identified as Transgender Student
Authorities are continuing to investigate the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, that left at least 10 people dead, including multiple victims at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and two individuals at a separate residence connected to the case.
While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have not formally released the suspectโs identity, the alleged shooter has been identified by a close family member as 17-year-old Jesse Strang, a student at the school.
The outlet stated it spoke with Russell G. Strang, identified as the suspectโs uncle, who claimed that Jesse was responsible for the attack and described the teen as transgender.
Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed these details, and investigators have urged the public to rely on verified information as the case remains active.
According to RCMP, gunfire was first reported at approximately 1:20 p.m. at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
Responding officers discovered six victims deceased inside the building, while a seventh victim later died while being transported to a hospital.
Two additional victims were airlifted to regional medical facilities with serious or life-threatening injuries, and roughly 25 others were evaluated for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
During the investigation, officers identified what they described as a โsecondary location believed to be connected to the incident.โ At that residence, police located two additional victims who were pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspected gunman is also deceased, reportedly from what investigators believe to be a self-inflicted injury.
โOfficers are conducting further searches of additional homes and properties to determine whether anyone else may be injured or otherwise linked to todayโs events,โ the RCMP said in a statement.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed profound sorrow following the tragedy.
โI am devastated by this shooting. I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,โ Carney said.
Tumbler Ridge, a remote community of approximately 2,400 residents in the Northern Rockies region of northeastern British Columbia, is now grappling with the aftermath of one of the deadliest acts of violence in its history.
Crisis support resources and emergency personnel have been mobilized to assist victims, families, and residents affected by the tragedy.
In the wake of the shooting, strong opinions and commentary have circulated online regarding the suspectโs identity, gender, and possible motives.
Authorities have not established a motive, nor have they confirmed personal details about the suspect. Officials caution against spreading speculation or attributing the attack to any ideology or group without verified evidence.
The investigation remains active as law enforcement works to confirm the suspectโs identity, reconstruct the timeline of events, and determine what factors led to the violence.
Additional updates are expected as authorities continue to gather and verify information.
Officials are urging anyone with relevant information to contact law enforcement and encouraging the public to respect the privacy of the victimsโ families during this time of profound loss.