Kare11
Victims ID’d in shooting spree that ended near Willmar
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office says the man killed in what appears to be an attempted carjacking was 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek of New London.
WILLMAR, Minn. — The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims of a shooting spree that started in Minneapolis and ended near Willmar Tuesday with one man dead and another wounded.
Office spokesman Imran Ali said in a press release Wednesday that 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek of New London was fatally shot in what investigators described as a carjacking attempt on Highway 23 near Willmar. Earlier, the suspect reportedly shot 25-year-old Peter Mayerchak at a rural home in Lake Lillian.
The alleged shooter is a 25-year-old man from Minneapolis who is currently being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail on probable cause second-degree murder. KARE 11 generally does not identify suspects until they are formally charged, a process that the sheriff’s office says will not happen on Wednesday.
Irman Ali also shared that Kandiyohi Sheriff Eric Tollefson and several of his deputies were witnesses to the fatal shooting, and will not comment on the case publicly.
“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,” Ali wrote.
Both Minneapolis police and Kandiyohi sheriff’s officials say the incident began Tuesday around 12:30 p.m. when MPD officers were dispatched to a domestic violence call at an apartment building at 29th and Lyndale. Officers learned shots had been fired from an apartment balcony but no one was hurt. Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that the suspect and the woman who rented the apartment had a child together who was soon located safe at a daycare in Minneapolis.
Crisis negotiators were able to reach the 25-year-old suspect by phone but were unable to convince him to surrender. They say the alleged gunman shot and wounded Mayerchak at a residence in Lake Lillian before leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase. When he got near Willmar, law enforcement said the suspect shot and killed Skluzacek in an attempted carjacking.
The person was allegedly found by staff on the morning of Oct 19.
RED WING, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Corrections is investigating after a juvenile was found deceased in its Red Wing facility over the weekend.
The person was allegedly found unresponsive by MNDOC staff on the morning of Oct 19, a statement from the agency said.
According to MNDOC, staff attempted life-saving measures but the juvenile was declared deceased by EMS.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The person was allegedly found by staff on the morning of Oct 19.
RED WING, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Corrections is investigating after a young man was found deceased in its Red Wing facility over the weekend.
The person was allegedly found unresponsive by MNDOC staff on the morning of Oct 19, a statement from the agency said.
According to MNDOC, staff attempted life-saving measures but the teen was declared deceased by EMS.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Michelle Kelley’s family said her blood alcohol content was nearly three times above the legal limit.
ELIZABETH, Indiana — An Ohio family claims a woman was served excessive amounts of alcohol prior to her death at Caesar’s Southern Indiana earlier this year.
Michelle Kelley, of Westerville, Ohio, died on March 28 while staying at the hotel and casino.
The lawsuit, filed last Tuesday on behalf of her estate and husband Jason Kelley, said Kelley was served at least 17 alcoholic drinks despite allegedly being visibly intoxicated.
Court documents said Kelley’s blood alcohol content was .222, nearly three times the legal limit. The lawsuit said the alcohol contributed to and was a “proximate cause” of her death.
Attorneys accused the casino of breaching its duty of care, saying their actions were “willful, reckless and grossly negligent.” The lawsuit names EBCI Holdings LLC, VICI Properties Inc., and “unknown servers” as co-defendants.
The family wants the case to go before a jury and are seeking $15 million in damages.
A spokesperson for Caesar’s Southern Indiana told WHAS11 they would not be commenting on the pending litigation.
Read the full lawsuit below:
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