MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Prosecutors in Minneapolis have filed murder charges against the suspect involved in the tragic killing of a well-known community member. Robert Skafte, a 66-year-old ballet dancer and beloved grocery store cashier, was found behind the counter of Oak Grove Grocery with a golf club through his torso. The suspect, Taylor Justin Schulz, 44, was arrested after a six-hour standoff and now faces charges of second-degree murder.
Skafte, who had danced with the acclaimed Ballet of the Dolls theater company, was a cherished member of the Loring Park neighborhood. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled his cause of death as multiple penetrating and blunt-force injuries. A memorial outside the grocery store has been created by grieving friends and neighbors.
Witnesses and video footage have provided details of the attack, with Schulz allegedly assaulting Skafte with brutal force after entering the store. The suspect then barricaded himself in his apartment across the street from the grocery store, leading to a six-hour standoff with law enforcement.
The case against Schulz has brought attention to his history of mental illness and run-ins with the law. It has been revealed that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and self-reported PTSD. Despite a previous civil commitment, he had been involved in incidents such as a DUI charge and an eviction summons.
The devastating loss of Skafte has deeply affected the Loring Park community, with neighbors gathering to remember the man known for welcoming new residents. Many have expressed shock and anger at the senseless act of violence that took the life of someone known as a “great dude” in the neighborhood.
As Minneapolis prepares for the upcoming court proceedings, the community continues to grapple with the tragic loss of a beloved member. The impact of the senseless violence has left a lasting impression on those who knew and admired Skafte, and the community mourns the loss of a cherished individual.