Duluth Mayor and Police Chief Release Statements On Early Morning Downtown Homicide

UPDATE (April 12, 5:30 pm.)–A woman was stabbed to death in downtown Duluth overnight.
It happened on First Street between Lake Avenue and First Avenue West.

Crime on that block has been so troublesome, that police have focused special attention to the area.

As many as eight squad cars were still on the scene processing evidence and taking people into custody Friday morning.

At least one man and one woman in the area were handcuffed and taken away by police. It is not known if they are related to the crime.

It was about 2:15 Friday morning when police responded to a call of shots fired and a possible stabbing.

They found a woman stabbed in the neck, who later died at the hospital.

Police spent the morning going in and out of the Kingsley Heights Apartment building at 105 West First Street.

What appeared to be blood could be seen on the sidewalk outside the building.

A little after the stabbing, a man with a gunshot wound showed up at the hospital, but against the advice of doctors, he left. Police do not know if the man with the gunshot wound is related to the stabbing.

Chief Mike Ceynowa said in a statement that steps taken by the department reduced violent crime on that block by 53% between the fall of 2023 and the year before.

On Facebook, Mayor Roger Reinert said loss of life through violent crimes is unacceptable and that everyone must get involved. He said over the past couple years, such behavior has been accepted as a “collective new norm” or “maybe we’ve just decided to shrug our shoulders.”

He said it will take a collective effort to solve the problem. He said if “you see something, say something.”

UPDATE (April 12, 12:30 p.m.) — Mayor Roger Reinert and Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa have provided statements to the early morning homicide.

Mayor Roger Reinert:

“I want to extend my condolences to the loved ones of the victim in today’s early morning homicide. Any loss of life in our community is tragic, and loss of life as the result of violent crimes is unacceptable. Further, gun violence of any kind in our community is unacceptable.”

Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa:

“The Duluth Police Department has been actively working on increasing safety measures to keep downtown Duluth safe. This includes increasing foot patrol and working with our businesses to ensure safety is all of our priority,” said Ceynowa. “Specifically, beginning in September of 2022 we made significant changes in our approach to the area of 1st St. and N 1st Ave W. These changes resulted in a 53% reduction in violent crime between Quarter 4 2022 and Quarter 4 2023. DPD will continue to work with our business partners to address behaviors in this area. We will not tolerate violence in our community.”

UPDATE (April 12, 8:50 a.m.) — Duluth Police say the injured woman was pronounced dead at a local hospital from a stab wound to the neck.

Authorities say a short time later, a man arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound and had left against medical advice. It is unknown if the man is related to the original incident.

Police ask anyone with information to call their Violent Crimes Unit at 218-730-5050.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

Police say the 100 block of West 1st Street is back open to the public.

A Fox 21 reporter on scene says a man and a woman were arrested in the area. No word on if the arrests were related to the incident.

ORIGINAL POST (April 12, 5:20 a.m.):

DULUTH, Minn. — A death investigation is underway after “reports of sounds of gunshots and a possible stabbing” around 2:15 a.m. Friday in a popular downtown Duluth bar scene.

At 5 a.m., the Duluth Police Department released a press release that said the incident happened in the 100 block of W. First Street.

“Upon arrival, officers located an injured female. The female was transported to a local hospital by Mayo Ambulance where she was pronounced deceased,” according to Mattie Hjelseth, Duluth Police Department Public Information Officer.

The victim was not immediately identified.

FOX 21 will have further information as authorities release it.