Man arrested after police say he fatally stabbed Mankato gas station employee
A southern Minnesota man is in custody after allegedly fatally stabbing a gas station employee early Tuesday morning.
Officers responded to a reported disturbance at the Kwik Trip at 1549 Madison Ave. in Mankato just after 3 a.m., the city's police department said.
They found an unresponsive employee. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died, police said. He has not been publicly identified.
"This is a devastating loss for all of us, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends," Kwik Trip said in a statement. "As a company, we are fully committed to supporting our coworkers through this painful ordeal. The suspect is in police custody, and we are working closely with law enforcement authorities to understand what happened."
Police identified the suspect using surveillance footage, then went to his home and arrested him. The 28-year-old has not yet been formally charged.
According to court documents, the suspect was under guardianship and living in a group home about a block away from the gas station. A November 2024 well-being report filed by his guardian noted that he "tends to make rash decisions that negatively affect him and could cause harm to others."
The suspect has been under guardianship since he was 18 due to PTSD and permanent brain damage, according to court records.
WCCO has reached out to investigators for more information on the suspect's background.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.
In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text "HelpLine" to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.
