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Suspect in U of M threats in custody
According to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, a 41-year-old was apprehended safely and without incident in Watson, where he resides.
MINNEAPOLIS — A 41-year-old man is in custody after officials say he allegedly threatened to shoot people on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus.
According to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, the man was apprehended safely and without incident in Watson, where he reportedly resides.
Extra officers were deployed on the U of M Twin Cities campus, and at least two school districts in western Minnesota were placed in lockdown after what police called a “specific threat” from a known individual.
“We are deeply grateful to the many law enforcement partners who contributed to today’s investigation and continue to work this case, starting with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, which alerted us to this threat and is leading ongoing efforts to apprehend the suspect,” a spokesperson for the U of M said in a press release. “We also appreciate the support of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, State Patrol, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department, Minneapolis PD and Metro Transit Police. As always, we also owe heartfelt thanks to our UMPD and Department of Public Safety personnel, who quickly shifted plans this morning to support the needed efforts to monitor and secure our campus.”
The university posted on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday morning that the 41-year-old man was threatening to shoot people on the Twin Cities campus. The University of Minnesota Police Department began working with the BCA and law enforcement in Chippewa County, the man’s home region, to locate him and investigate the threat.
Authorities say the suspect is from the community of Watson, just six miles from the city of Montevideo. Due to safety concerns and ongoing law enforcement activity in the area, both the Lac Qui Parle Valley and Dawson Boyd School Districts increased security measures at district buildings until the suspect was apprehended.
While university police have named the man accused of making the threat, KARE 11 does not publicly identify people until they have been officially charged with a crime. A background check does turn up an extensive criminal history for the man, ranging from drug possession and damage to property to burglary and fleeing police. He was committed in 2016 for mental illness and chemical addiction. Years prior, he also served as Watson’s mayor.
“At that time, he was doing a lot charity projects through his business and he spoke very candidly about his mental health and addiction struggles,” said Jessica Stolen, editor of the Montevideo American News, who interviewed the suspect last winter. “And he had made note that, you know, he was doing a lot of this stuff, he felt as reparations for the struggles he’s had previously and the interactions he’s had with law enforcement, and so I think it’s just really sad for all the people who were rooting for him.”
A Facebook account believed to belong to the suspect shows a torrent of rambling posts in recent hours, including a mention of making the 2.5 hour drive to the U of M “to start killing kids.”
While the search for the suspect went on, employees at the U of M were urged to work remotely, and residents were asked to stay away from campus. Shortly after 1 p.m. the university shared that the suspect had been located in western Minnesota, and operations on the Twin Cities campus were returning to normal.
Updates are available on the U of M website.
KARE 11 is following this story and will have the latest information as it becomes available.
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The suspect was 17 at the time of the shooting, but he was charged as an adult.
A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, more than two years after a drive-by shooting left a 17-year-old dead.
Casimir Semlak, of St. Paul, was charged with shooting 17-year-old Anthony Skelley in May 2022 during an apparent drug deal in South St. Paul. Police say a search of Skelley’s cell phone uncovered that the last number he was in communication with was linked to the suspect.
Semlak was also 17 at the time but was charged in the adult court system.
Following his death, family members told KARE 11 in a statement that Skelley was a junior attending St. Paul Public Schools’ Gateway to College program, and had “a beautiful soul with a cheerful presence and a joyful spirit.”
Semlak will be sentenced in January 2025.
The Moorhead Police Department said Paige Reinke was last seen Sunday wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray sweatpants.
MOORHEAD, Minn. — Officials are asking for the public’s help locating a 17-year-old Moorhead girl that is believed to be endangered.
According to the Moorhead Police Department, Paige Reinke was last seen Sunday near the 2600 block of River Drive North wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) describes her as 5-foot-4, 155 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Moorhead Police Department at 701-451-7660.
“The Power of a Transformed Woman” is Twyla Martin’s raw, unapologetic story about strength, transformation and rising above trauma.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota author and motivational speaker has written a new book and is holding a panel discussion.
“The Power of a Transformed Woman” is Twyla Martin’s raw, unapologetic story about strength, transformation, and rising above trauma.
On Friday, Nov. 1, Martin will speak with a panel at CSPS Hall in St. Paul about her book release.
- Twyla Martin – Author
- Nekima Levy Armstrong – Civil rights attorney, activities, and community organizer
- Chantel Sings – Powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and performer
- Ashley DuBose – Singer, songwriter
- Jamela Pettiford – Vocalist and actress
- Lissa Jones – Speaker, advocate for African American history and culture
- Robin Hickman-Winfield – Producer, filmmaker, and CEO of SoulTouch Productions
- Alana Carrington – Creative professional with expertise in the arts, education, and community development
