CLOQUET, Minn. – Two people were fatally shot at a hotel in Cloquet, Minnesota on Monday night, and the shooter was also found dead, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
An employee at the Super 8 hotel called 911 to report that a fellow hotel worker appeared to have been attacked, according to a news release from the Cloquet Police Department. The 22-year-old employee was found with a gunshot wound and later pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital.
During the investigation, officers discovered a 35-year-old man dead from a gunshot wound inside a car in the hotel parking lot. Another 32-year-old man was found dead from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound outside the hotel, with a gun next to him, according to the release. Surveillance video from the hotel confirmed that the 32-year-old was the shooter.
The police department has not disclosed any information about the motive for the shootings or whether there was any connection between the suspect and the two victims. However, the department assured the public that there is no further threat to their safety.
Authorities will hold a news conference on Tuesday to provide more information, and the identities of the individuals involved will not be released until their family members have been notified.
Following the incident, nearby businesses closed early, and additional law enforcement agencies and emergency responder groups assisted with the response, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Governor Tim Walz offered prayers for the victims and expressed readiness to provide continued support to local authorities.
In conclusion, two people were killed in a shooting at a hotel in Cloquet, Minnesota on Monday night, and the suspected shooter was also found dead. The motive for the shootings is still unknown, and the authorities have assured the public that there is no further threat to their safety.