Cloquet Police Release Update On Super 8 Motel Shooting Investigation

CLOQUET, Minn. — The Cloquet Police Department has released an update regarding the Super 8 Motel shooting incident that happened earlier this month.

The shooting occurred January 8 with the shooter taking the life of 2 victims, 22-year-old Shellby Trettel of Cloquet and 35-year-old Patrick Jeffrey Roers of Deer River before taking his own life. The suspect is Nicholas Lenius, 32, of Ramsey, Minnesota.

Police say they are continuing to investigate and have not been able to find a clear motive for the shooting. They believe the autopsy results coming back in 4 to 6 weeks will help them understand the incident better.

The full statement is below:

Cloquet, MN – Chief of Police, Cloquet Police Department, issues the following update on the investigation into the shooting incident at the Super 8 Motel on January 9, 2024.

The Cloquet Police Department continues to investigate the tragic shooting incident that took place at the Super 8 Motel earlier this month. As of this update, we want to inform the public and the media that our investigation is ongoing, and we are working to uncover all relevant details surrounding this incident.

Currently, we have not established a clear motive for the shooting, nor have we uncovered any connections between the suspect and the victims. Our detectives continue to pursue all leads and avenues of inquiry to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired.

Currently, we focus on examining the digital evidence obtained from the scene, which could provide insights into the incident’s circumstances. Additionally, we have been informed that the final autopsy report, including toxicology results, is anticipated to be available within the next 4-6 weeks. We expect these findings to help us understand the incident better.

As we continue our investigation, I assure the community we remain committed to transparency and justice. We will provide additional updates as soon as we get more information and after consulting with our detectives and the county attorney’s office.

Finally, I thank the media and the community for their patience, cooperation, and support during this challenging time. Your understanding and help are vital as we strive to understand this matter.