Victim and Suspect Identified in Pine Co. Shooting
BROOK PARK - On Wednesday around 9 p.m. the Pine County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting that a shooting had occurred at 29243 Sunny Hill Rd in rural Pine County.
Information from the reporting party was that she had received a text message from Dawn Christen, age 55, a resident of 29243 Sunny Hill Rd. in Brook Park.
The text message stated that Dawn had been shot by her ex-husband Daniel Shilts, age 55, and that he was still present inside the house on Sunny Hill Rd.
Deputies from the Pine County and Chisago County Sheriff's Offices responded to the scene and established a perimeter around the house.
Numerous attempts were made to contact the female resident by phone and text with no response.
Upon arriving Pine County Sheriffs SGT Thomas Meier was able to make contact with Daniel who briefly exited the house and was standing on the front deck.
SGT Meier attempted to talk Daniel away from the house so Deputies could go in and get Dawn, but Daniel refused and fled back inside the dwelling and began turning off all the lights.
Several on duty Pine and Chisago County SWAT members including SGT Meier made an exigent high risk entry into the house to rescue Dawn.
SWAT Deputies located Dawn in a bathroom; she had been shot in the chest area and appeared to be in grave condition.
As several members evacuated her to EMS personnel outside, other SWAT Deputies continued in their high risk search of the house for Daniel.
Daniel had fled to a living room couch and was discovered holding a pistol to his head threatening to kill himself.
From a covered position by the living room entrance SWAT Deputies provided security, as a Pine County Crisis negotiator talked with Daniel about safely resolving the situation.
After approximately 2 hours of talks, Daniel shot himself. Deputies immediately began medical aid but Daniel died at the scene.
The investigation up to this point shows that Daniel had forced entry into a rear door of the house before Dawn arrived home.
He confronted her when she got home and shot her in the chest.
Dawn fled to a bathroom and sent a text message to the original caller advising her she had been shot.
There were no active restraining or protection orders against Daniel.
Dawn Christen was transferred to St Mary's Hospital in Duluth, were she is listed in serious condition.
This incident is currently under investigation by the Pine County Sheriff's Office and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. POC is Chief Deputy Blackwell at 320-629-8380
