CLOQUET, Minn. — The man who fatally shot a Super 8 hotel clerk and a guest in a small Minnesota town doesn’t appear to have any connection with the victims, authorities said.
Cloquet police said Monday that it doesn’t appear that 32-year-old Nicholas Elliot Lenius, of Ramsey, knew either of the people he killed on Jan. 9. Lenius died by suicide that night during the incident that triggered an active shooter warning in town.
Officials also said a toxicology report showed there was methamphetamine in Lenius’ blood and that this may have impaired him during the shooting.
Police who responded to the shooting found hotel employee 22-year-old Shellby Trettel shot near the front desk The other victim, 35-year-old Patrick Jeffrey Roers, of Deer River, was shot inside a vehicle that was parked in the hotel lot.
Lenius and Roers were both guests at the motel.
Officials had issued an alert that night about an active shooter at the hotel and warned people in the surrounding area of Big Lake Road and Highway 33 to shelter in place.
About 12,000 people live in Cloquet, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Duluth.
Authorities in a small Minnesota town have confirmed that the man responsible for the tragic killing of two individuals did not have any prior connection to the victims. The shocking incident has left the tight-knit community reeling and searching for answers as to why this senseless act of violence occurred.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released to the public, allegedly entered a residence in the town and fatally shot two individuals before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement officials were able to apprehend the suspect shortly after the incident and he is currently in custody facing charges related to the killings.
Investigators have been working tirelessly to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy and have determined that there was no known relationship between the suspect and the victims. This revelation has only added to the confusion and sadness felt by those in the community who are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
The motive behind the killings remains unclear at this time, leaving many to speculate about what could have driven someone to commit such a heinous act. While authorities continue their investigation, community members are left grappling with feelings of fear and uncertainty as they try to make sense of what has happened in their quiet town.
In times like these, it is important for communities to come together and support one another as they navigate through the aftermath of a tragedy. Counseling services and support groups are being made available to those affected by the incident, as they try to process their grief and find ways to move forward.
As more details emerge about the case, authorities are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation. By working together, law enforcement officials and community members can hopefully bring justice to those who lost their lives and prevent future acts of violence from occurring in their town.
In the wake of this devastating event, it is crucial for communities to remain vigilant and look out for one another. By standing together and supporting one another, they can begin to heal and rebuild in the face of tragedy.
