Suspect Dead After Setting Fires and Shooting at First Responders

DULUTH, Minn. – One man is dead, after allegedly setting fire to multiple houses and shooting at first responders in Normanna Township, just north of Duluth.

A 911 caller Tuesday morning reported a neighbor for spraying gas on a family member and setting the caller’s house on fire. Another neighboring home was set ablaze, and the suspect is believed to have set fire to their own home as well. A volunteer firefighter was able to put out the fires of the neighboring homes, but he believed the suspect was shooting at him. Once officers arrived at the scene, multiple were met with gunfire.

“Five of our st louis County deputies approached the area where the homes were burning, and as they did, the suspect engaged them, which led to a use of force incident in the encounter, causing all five deputies to discharge their weapons, striking the suspect,” said Gordon Ramsay, St. Louis County Sheriff

Sheriff Ramsey also says the suspect left explosive devices, meant to hurt first responders.

“During the investigation, we found many homemade devices near the scene, and these devices at this point appear to have been designed to fire projectiles at first responders as they approached on the road,” said Ramsay.

Authorities performed life-saving measures, but the suspect was later pronounced deceased. No deputies, Firefighters, or civilians were injured during the incident, and the investigation has been turned over to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.