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Charges: Son shoots father in Hinckley ‘execution style’
Kirk Edward Hazlett III, faces multiple felony charges for his role in his father’s death at a family hunting cabin in Hinckley, Minn.
HINCKLEY, Minn. — A man in Pine County is charged with murder after authorities say he shot his father at a hunting cabin last week.
The victim of the Nov. 14 fatal shooting has been identified as Kirk Edward Hazlett II, who died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to charges filed Monday.
His son, Kirk Edward Hazlett III, faces multiple felony charges for his role in his father’s ‘execution style’ shooting death at a family hunting cabin in Hinckley, Minn.
According to the criminal complaint, Hazlett II, his brother and another male were staying at the cabin while hunting. Prior to the shooting, a trail cam on the property alerted them that Hazlett III was approaching with a gun in hand. Hazlett III then ‘busted through’ a cabin door and began firing at his father before the other men could react.
Hazlett III shot his father multiple times in the upper body before standing over his father and shooting him in the head ‘execution style’, according to a witness account of the shooting. “He entered with a mission… he entered to kill him,” the witness told police.
The criminal complaint notes a strained relationship between the father and son, with Hazlett II’s brother saying the two hadn’t been getting along for a long time. Hazlett III had been trespassed from the property a month earlier after police were called to the property for a dispute between the two.
The two witnesses who saw the shooting unfold, fearing he would kill them next, were able to convince Hazlett III to let them go after surrendering their phones. When Hazlett III let them leave, they were able to run to a neighbor who helped call 911.
Police located Hazlett III later at his Cambridge, Minn. residence where they took him into custody.
Hazlett III is currently in Pine County Jail and made his first court appearance Monday.
The Minnesota Department of Health said five Minnesotans became ill in relation to an E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots.
ST PAUL, Minnesota — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is warning people to get rid of any recalled organic carrots in their homes.
On Nov. 16, Grimmway Farms recalled multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic baby and whole carrots. While the products have likely been pulled from shelves, they could still be in people’s refrigerators and freezers. Specific information on brands and sizes affected can be found, here.
Nationwide, at least 39 people have been infected by the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121:H19 outbreak in 18 states.
Five Minnesotans, ages 15-44, became ill between Sept. 21 and Oct. 6. One person has been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. MDH said the illnesses were linked to eating organic carrots purchased from Costco, Target and HyVee and brands included Good and Gather, Bunny Luv and Cal-Organic. Minnesota is one of the states with the highest number of cases.
The news comes just three days after MDH sent out information on E. coli infections linked to burgers at Twin Cities restaurants. MDH said it had identified 10 cases of E. coli 0157 infection in people who had eaten burgers at multiple locations of Red Cow and one case from Hen House Eatery. The ground beef was also distributed to other places so more cases could be identified. Those sickened by the burgers had their meals between Oct. 31 through Nov. 7.
Symptoms typically include stomach cramps and diarrhea, often with bloody stools, and a low-grade fever or no fever.
“That investigation is very much ongoing. We’re in the very, very early stages of the outbreak and it is, in a way, kind of unusual for us to go public so quickly because there are a lot of things that still haven’t been sorted out,” said Carlota Medus, MDH epidemiologist supervisor of the foodborne diseases unit.
Between these two cases and other recent news, it seems E. coli and other foodborne illness outbreaks keep popping up in the news. But Medus said, “It’s pretty average. A pretty typical year.”
According to MDH data, year to date in 2024 there have been 84 cases of E. coli 0157 (the strain linked to the ground beef illnesses). That’s compared to 86 year to date in 2023. However, it is higher than 2021’s 69 cases and the 62 in 2022.
MDH said they just happen to be dealing with two high-profile cases at the same time where there’s a call to action.
“We have a lot of outbreaks in Minnesota and all over the country. We investigate an awful lot of outbreaks and the majority of them, we can actually put interventions in place so quickly that we basically end the risk to the public. So when we go public, it’s because we want the public to do something,” Medus said.
When it comes to the E. coli infections linked to ground beef, Medus said, “We wanted to do public notification because if you are getting sick about now or very recently, you could still reach out to your health care provider and your health care provider can decide if you need additional care.”
She went on to say, “That investigation is still ongoing. So if you’re eating at a table service restaurant and you’re going to eat a hamburger, ask for it well done until we have more answers.”
Regarding the E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots, Medus is urging people to check their refrigerators and freezers for any recalled carrots and throw them away.
Medus recommends avoiding any cross-contamination while cooking at home. MDH is also warning people as norovirus season begins to help prevent illness by washing hands and not preparing food for others while sick.
The Lake Street Safety Center opened in early November and a similar facility is expected to open in South Minneapolis in 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS — A violent weekend in Minneapolis included two separate stabbings and what police described as a “chaotic shooting” at a downtown nightclub. It marked the second Minneapolis nightclub shooting in one month.
“Trauma,” Pastor Ian D. Bethel noted. “It is trauma.”
Bethel leads the Unity Community Mediation Team, an organization formed more than two decades ago to help transform public safety within Minneapolis. He said the city is in need of healing.
“It is beyond what the statistics are saying about crime and the use of drugs, etcetera, in our city. We have neglected for years our young and our youth, and now it’s coming back to us.”
The first of a series of community engagement meetings hosted by the City of Minneapolis took place Monday evening at the Midtown Global Market. The meeting is not a direct response to the violent incidents over the weekend. Rather, it’s a way for city representatives and community members to connect about the services and resources needed at the Lake Street Safety Center.
The new center opened in early November and a similar facility is expected to open in South Minneapolis in 2026. The South Minneapolis Safety Center will also house the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct.
According to a press release from the city, these centers will help create a “community safety ecosystem,” bringing together various organizations, services and resources. “The information gathered from online surveys and more than 40 engagement meetings held across South Minneapolis has helped the City advance its goal of a community safety ecosystem – a collaborative network of organizations, services, and programs working together to address not just crime and safety concerns but also the root causes of crime and violence,” the release read.
Bethel said such centers will not be successful without long-term investments from the city.
“What is the long-term investment from the City Council? What’s the long-term investment in terms of the money that you’re gonna put into it? And not just to turn on the lights and keep the heat running, but what’s your long-term investment to have the right staff in there? What’s your long-term investment to have mental health care, your long-term investment to have after school care, your long-term investment for the children in our community to have a place to come after school or when their parents are working?” Bethel said.
Steven Grundy, who said he spends a lot of time around Lake Street as he uses public transportation to commute from Saint Paul, said he could see how a safety center would be beneficial. He said more resources in the area are needed.
“Computer for resumes and whatnot would be extremely helpful,” he said.
Bethel emphasized the importance of providing resources that extend beyond traditional safety measures, including providing mental health, economic and childcare support.
“It has to be something perpetual. It cannot be a band-aid,” he added. “That’s what the citizens of Minneapolis are crying for and asking for and need. It’s got to be transformational.”
Monday’s meeting was the first of several planned through the rest of the year and into 2025. The next one will take place on Thursday at the 42nd Event Center.
A man who has not yet been identified was struck and killed when hit by a car driving on Highway 61.
MAPLEWOOD, Minn — A man died early Monday morning after authorities say he was hit by a car.
It happened on Highway 61 in Maplewood, near Highway 36, at about 5:45 a.m.
According to Minnesota State Patrol, the driver of a Kia Sportage was going south on Highway 61 when they hit the pedestrian.
The man who died is listed as 24 years old, but State Patrol records list his name currently as ‘John Doe.’ The driver of the car was not hurt.
