CLOQUET, Minn. – A tragic shooting incident at a small-town Minnesota hotel resulted in the deaths of an employee and two possible guests, including the suspect. The shooting occurred at the Super 8 in Cloquet, Minnesota, triggering an active shooter alert. According to Cloquet Police Chief Derek Randall, an employee found another staff member who appeared to have been attacked and immediately contacted the authorities on Monday evening.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene within three minutes, discovering a 22-year-old clerk with a gunshot wound inside the hotel. The victim was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries later. In addition to the employee, a 35-year-old man from Deer River, Minnesota, was found dead inside a vehicle in the hotel parking lot, while a 32-year-old man from Ramsey, Minnesota, was found deceased outside the hotel, with a handgun next to him. Video evidence from the hotel’s surveillance system confirmed that the 32-year-old had taken his own life after committing the heinous act.
Cloquet police authorities did not disclose the identities of the deceased individuals and stated that they were still investigating the motive and any potential connections between the three individuals. They did, however, believe that both men were guests at the hotel at the time of the incident.
Police issued an active shooter alert on Monday night and advised people in the surrounding area to seek shelter, but the order was lifted after about 90 minutes once the suspected shooter was confirmed deceased and no further threats were reported. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz mentioned the shooting at a separate news conference and emphasized the need to address and reduce gun violence in communities.
The tragic incident at the Super 8 hotel in Cloquet, Minnesota, has left the community in shock and mourning as the investigation into this senseless act continues to unfold. The identity of the suspect and the victims remain undisclosed as the authorities work to piece together the events that led to this devastating loss of life in the small town of Cloquet.