MARSHALL, Minn. — A woman who was brutally attacked in her home in southwestern Minnesota has tragically died from her injuries, according to authorities. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Meredith Martell, 35. The man responsible for the attack, Jamel C. Hill Moore, 41, was shot and killed by a police officer during the incident.
Officer Eric Klenken responded to reports of a domestic disturbance early Sunday at a residence in Marshall, Minnesota. Upon arrival, he was approached by a child who directed him into the house, where a woman could be heard screaming for help in an upstairs bedroom. Klenken immediately entered the bedroom and found Moore on top of Martell, stabbing her on the floor of her closet.
In an attempt to stop the attack, Klenken ordered Moore to drop the knife, but he refused. Klenken then tried to use a Taser on Moore, which had no effect. After repeated commands to drop the knife were ignored, Klenken fired two shots, fatally striking Moore.
Three additional officers and a sheriff’s deputy arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance to both Martell and Moore, but sadly, Martell succumbed to her injuries on Sunday night at a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. According to reports, she died from “multiple sharp-force injuries.”
Fortunately, neither the children who were present at the time of the incident nor Officer Klenken were physically harmed.
An investigation into the incident has been requested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Two knives were recovered at the scene, and Klenken’s body camera footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation.
Authorities have not provided further details about the domestic disturbance or the relationship between the victim and the assailant.
The Marshall Police Department has placed Officer Klenken on standard administrative leave due to the use of lethal force. Klenken has 24 years of law enforcement experience. Domestic disturbances can be hazardous for law enforcement officers, as demonstrated by this tragic incident. Information regarding the incident is currently being investigated, and further updates will be made available by the police department.