Man Charged with Fatally Stabbing Shopper at Duluth Grocery Store

A judge in St. Louis County has set bail at $1 million for a man accused of fatally stabbing a shopper at a Duluth grocery store.

Thirty-five-year-old Jesse Dahlstrom is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the death of 75-year-old Sally Marie Pionk of Proctor.

A criminal complaint says Dahlstrom didn’t know the victim and told investigators he went to Super One Foods Dec. 11 to ”either shop or kill somebody.”

The complaint says Dahlstrom approached the victim in the bakery section, grabbed her from behind and stabbed her in the neck.

Authorities say a male employee ran to Pionk’s aid and kicked Dahlstrom away from her.

Dahlstrom dropped the knife and was held by several people until police arrived.

Dahlstrom’s public defender has asked that the defendant undergo a mental health exam.