Motive still unclear in Cloquet shooting that left suspect, 2 others dead
CLOQUET, Minn. — Officials in Cloquet are still seeking a motive in a Monday evening shooting that left three people dead, including the suspect.
During a news conference Tuesday morning, Cloquet Police Chief Derek Randall said the investigation remains active. He said investigators are still unclear of the motive, or if this was a random act of violence. He says there's no threat to the public.
"Last night was a very difficult night for our community," Randall said.
According to police, an employee of a Super 8 called 911 around 6:30 p.m. and reported that they found a female employee who appeared to have been attacked.
When officers arrived several minutes later, they found a 22-year-old Cloquet woman with a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital in Duluth where she died a short time later.
A single bouquet of flowers sits at the entrance of the Super 8 in Cloquet.
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) January 9, 2024
Police say a 32y/o gunman, from Ramsey, shot and killed a 22 y/o hotel employee working the desk Monday night.
He then shot and killed a 35 y/o man in the parking lot before shooting himself. pic.twitter.com/D7YVWaMqpG
Shellby Trettel's family identified her as the woman killed in the shooting.
Her father, Tim, called what happened "a senseless act of violence."
He said in a statement, "Shellby was a caring, compassionate and wonderfully colorful person. She loved her siblings and friends and her music. Shellby was a person who you could always count on. Shellby Trettel is a memorable person who has touched many lives. She will be so dearly missed and forever in our hearts."
Police later confirmed that Trettel worked as a clerk at the hotel. Randall says she was near the front desk when she was shot.
Police officers then found a 35-year-old Deer River man who had multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle in the parking lot. The man was deceased at the scene.
Officers later found a 32-year-old Ramsey man outside the hotel who was dead from "what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound" with a firearm next to him, police said.
Police said that evidence indicated an active shooter situation, so a temporary shelter-in-place order was issued and the hotel was evacuated while police investigated the incident.
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Investigators reviewed surveillance video and confirmed the suspected shooter was the deceased 32-year-old man. That prompted police to lift the shelter-in-place at about 8:30 p.m.
At this point in the investigation, police believe the suspect shot the clerk and exited the hotel, where he shot the second victim. He then fatally shot himself nearby.
Randall says he's never seen anything like this in his 20 years on the force. He says the hotel's surveillance footage was vital to his department's quick response.
"It was crucial. I think the biggest concern for us was not knowing where the suspect was as we responded. Officers were able to quickly start to clear the hotel, top floor, bottom floor. Once that was secure, people were in place, they were able to access the video surveillance and recall that information," Randall said.
Both Randall and Cloquet Mayor Roget Maki praised the responders for their actions during the incident.
"These brave men and women, charged with keeping our community safe in instances like these, continue to rush into situations like these with public and community safety as their priority," Maki said.
Residents say they never thought something like this would happen in their town of 12,000 people.
"It was pretty scary having that in your backyard," said resident Angie Koss. "We went and shut off all our lights, locked our doors, made sure all of our vehicles were locked because we didn't know what was going on."
Kathy Bjonskaas, from nearby Esko, says her heart goes out to the slain clerk.
"I would hope they'd come together and do something special for the family. I mean, it's got to be hard for them," Bjonskaas said. "A 20-year-old young woman. I mean, she had her whole life before her. Here she is, at her job, doing her job, and I mean it could happen to anybody."
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting in the investigation. The names of the suspect and other victim are expected to be released Wednesday.
The Super 8 hotel is located on the 100 block of Big Lake Road. Cloquet is about 25 miles southwest of Duluth.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988. There you'll reach a trained crisis counselor who can help. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, also has resources online.