Public memorial held for slain grocery store employee at the Center for Performing Arts
MINNEAPOLIS — Friends and family honored slain grocery store employee, Robert Skafte, at the Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.
The 66-year-old was found behind the counter of Oak Grove Grocery in Loring Park on Dec. 8 "with a golf club impaled through his torso," the department said in the news release.
First responders gave the man "immediate medical aid," police said, and he was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. Skafte died at the hospital, despite life-saving efforts, police said.
"He was passionate about his gardening. He was passionate about whittling wood. He was passionate about dinner parties. He was rare. We don't have enough free spirited people like Robert," Myron Johnson said.
"He would show up for anyone," Joshua Eidem said. "And I know that he probably was the one trying to help this person before he was attacked and killed."
Taylor Schulz, 44, has been charged with Skafte's murder.
According to a criminal complaint, footage from inside the business captured Schultz brutally assaulting Skafte.
Authorities were in a standoff outside his apartment for six hours after the killing, before Schultz opened the door and police arrested him, according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted, Schulz faces up to 40 years in prison.
"I can feel that he thought he could make that a better situation. You know, and it didn't go that way. And I think had he survived, he would have had a broken heart," Johnson said.
Skafte was beloved in the local community with many saying he was very kind and gentle.
"Known him ever since I moved in here 17 years ago. I think he was the neighborhood ambassador, knows everybody. Everybody knows him," said Jon Tevlin, a friend.
Tevlin went on to say, "the irony here is that he was the gentlest person I'd ever met. Just a sweetheart," and, "I can't imagine him provoking anyone, or even fighting back...he was the most peaceful person you could ever meet. I would think that if someone were going to take something from the store, he wouldn't try to stop them. He would let them go. So I'm just really puzzled by this."
At the memorial, QR codes were displayed, asking mourners to support mental health services. They say it's what Skafte would have wanted.
"I really hope that the violence that was perpetrated against my dear friend was not completely meaningless, that something can come of what happened, how terrible it was," Eidem said. "He was such a beautiful human being and he did not deserve this and...there is a way forward through this and it is through change."
Skafte's friends told WCCO they hope to make noise with lawmakers once the legislative session starts and get a mental health bill passed in his honor.
