Crime

Duluth Police Chief Announces Retirement After More Than 30 Years Of Service

Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken announced on Wednesday his plans to retire.

DULUTH, Minn.– Since 1992, Chief Mike Tusken has served in the city’s police department. But his time is coming to an end as the Duluth Police Department announced on Wednesday that Tusken is retiring. For the last 6 years, Chief Tusken has worked as Police Chief to bring the community together. His driving force, the love for Duluth and its…

Cloquet Police In Search Of Burglary Suspect

CLOQUET, Minn. — The Cloquet Police Department responded to a burglary on Boulder Drive in Cloquet on Tuesday around 4:30 a.m. The residents said the intruder physically assaulted one of them, but another person intervened causing the intruder to run. The Minnesota State Patrol assisted police officers but were unable to find the suspect. The burglar is described as a…

59-Year-Old Eveleth Man Transported To Duluth Hospital After Stabbing

EVELETH, Minn. — The Eveleth Police Department is investigating a stabbing that happened in Eveleth occurring around 5 a.m. Sunday. Officers located a 59-year-old male victim on the 200 block of Cleveland Street. The victim had multiple stab wounds and was immediately taken to Essentia Health in Virginia, but later taken to a Duluth hospital where he is now being…

Police: Tennessee Shooting Leads to 3 Dead, 14 Injured

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, who described himself as an “avid hunter” and gun owner, called on Congress to enact “common sense regulations” to address gun violence.

Photo: Tierra Hayes/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting near a Tennessee nightclub early Sunday led to three deaths and 14 people suffering gunshot wounds and other injuries, police said. Fourteen people were hit by gunfire and three were hit by vehicles while trying to flee the scene, according to Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy….

Grand Rapids Student In Custody After Firearm Found In Vehicle

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — On Thursday afternoon a student from Grand Rapids High School was taken into custody after a search of their vehicle. The search was originally to find a vaping device, but the vehicle search by the Grand Rapids Police Department found a firearm and ammunition inside. After finding the firearm and ammunition the search was immediately isolated…

Jury Finds Cloquet Man Guilty Of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend, Her Son

CLOQUET, Minn. – A Cloquet man has been found guilty on all eight counts for murdering his pregnant girlfriend and her 20-month-old son. Sheldon Thompson, 35, will get a mandatory sentence of life without release for the first-degree premediated murder conviction, according to the Carlton County Attorney’s Office. It was in 2020 when Thompson killed Jackie Defoe, 27, her unborn…

Superior Middle Schooler in Custody After Threatening Students

According to officials the one who made the treat admitted he did so to scare the student he was showing the list to. 

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A Superior Middle School student is in Police Custody Tuesday after school staff reported a list of other students the 12-year-old said he intended to harm. According to a spokesperson with the Superior Police Department, a Speak Up Speak Out tip was reported to SMS staff in the morning, indicating the student threatened others at the school. The…

2 New Lawsuits Allege Excessive Force, Discrimination By Derek Chauvin

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Two new lawsuits were filed Tuesday against the City of Minneapolis for alleged cases of police brutality committed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin before he murdered George Floyd. The lawsuits, filed on behalf of Minneapolis residents John Pope and Zoya Code, allege police misconduct, use of excessive force, and racial discrimination from incidents that occurred in 2017 in…

Agency: 1 Dead, 7 Injured in Oklahoma Festival Shooting

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reports that witnesses said an argument preceded the gunfire just after midnight.

TAFT, Okla. (AP) – Authorities say one person was killed and seven were injured in a shooting early Sunday at an outdoor festival in eastern Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that two juveniles were among those shot at the Memorial Day event near Taft, about 10 miles southeast of Tulsa. The agency reports that…

Police Inaction Moves to Center of Uvalde Shooting Probe

The delay in confronting the shooter - who was inside the school for more than an hour - could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police.

FILE – Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. When the gunman arrived at the school, he hopped its fence and easily entered through an unlocked back door, police said. He holed himself up in a fourth-grade classroom where he killed the children and teachers. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File) STEFANIE…

Minneapolis Agrees to Pay $1.2M to People Injured by Police

The city has agreed to pay a total of $5.4 million to people injured by police in May 2020.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneapolis City Council has approved $1.2 million in legal settlements with two people injured by police during protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of officers in 2020. Minnesota Public Radio reports that settlements with St. Paul resident Virgil Lee Jackson Jr. and Nashville freelance photographer Linda Tirado mean the city has agreed to…

Duluth Police: Alleged Threat to Lincoln Park Middle School was List of Peoples’ Names Student Felt ‘upset with and bullied by’

Investigators believe the list of names "are individuals the student expressed both being upset with and bullied by." 

DULUTH, Minn.- Investigators with the Duluth Police Department Friday determined the alleged school threat made by a Lincoln Park Middle School student was a written list of names several months old. According to a Department spokesperson, after the recent tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, students who knew about the list told the staff. Both Police and School Administration were…

Duluth Police: Threat Made at Lincoln Park Middle School Not Credible, Under Investigation

DULUTH, Minn.- A threat allegedly made by a student at Lincoln Park Middle School Thursday is under investigation by Duluth Police, but has been deemed not credible. According to a spokesperson with the Department, the threat was reported to a School Resource Officer, and the Police Department received concern from community members via social media. Investigators do not believe it…

Officials On Alert for Increased Driving Deaths, Grill Fires Memorial Day thru Labor Day

This Memorial Day comes after one of the deadliest summers on record for Minnesota Motorists.

DULUTH, Minn.- As many get ready to break out the grills and coolers this Memorial Day weekend, it comes in the shadow of one of the deadliest years on record for Minnesota roads last year. So officials are making sure everyone has a safe holiday, behind the wheel and at home. Memorial Day weekend kicks off the 100 most traveled…

Texas School Shooting Kills 18 Children, 3 Adults

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — An 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 18 children, officials said, and the gunman was dead. The death toll also included three adults, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he was briefed by state police on the fatalities. But it was not immediately clear whether that number…

Police Chief Wants Palace Bar’s Liquor License Not Renewed Amid Ongoing Violence

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior’s top cop is calling for the Palace Bar to lose its liquor and amusement device licenses after a shooting in March and after more than 150 calls for police services since January of 2021. Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander said beyond the recent shooting there are ongoing calls of violence at the Palace Bar on the…

Proctor HS Football Player Accused Of Sodomizing Victim Pleads Guilty

PROCTOR, Minn. — The Proctor High School football player charged with sexually assaulting his teammate in September pleaded guilty in the case on Tuesday. FOX21 is not naming the suspect because he was 17 at the time of the incident, and it is an extended jurisdiction juvenile case in court. The defendant will eventually receive an adult sentencing, but the…

UPDATE – U.S. Attorney: FBI Investigating Buffalo, NY Shooting as Hate Crime, Racially Motivated Extremism

Investigators believe the gunman may have been streaming the shooting through a camera affixed to his helmet, one of the officials said.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) UPDATE: BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)- The gunman was identified as Payton Gendron of Conklin, a New York state community about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Buffalo, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials were not permitted to speak publicly on the matter and did so on the condition of anonymity. UPDATE: US attorney says FBI…

20 Injured in Milwaukee Shootings After Bucks Playoff Game

None of the injuries from either shooting after Friday night’s game were believed to be life-threatening.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Twenty people were injured in two shootings in downtown Milwaukee near an entertainment district where thousands had been watching the Bucks lose to the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals, authorities said. None of the injuries from either shooting after Friday night’s game were believed to be life-threatening. The first shooting, involving…

Sheriff: Ex-Jail Official, Inmate She Helped Escape Caught

ASSOCIATED PRESS — A former Alabama jail official and the murder suspect she is accused of helping escape from custody were apprehended Monday in Indiana after more than a week on the run, law enforcement officials said. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton of Alabama said the two fugitives were caught near Evansville, Indiana, after U.S. Marshals pursued their pickup truck….

57-year-old Duluth Man Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Child Pornography

The investigation began over a year ago from multiple cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). 

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Police Officers arrested a 57-year-old man living in the Lakeside Lester Park neighborhood Friday, accusing him of 15 counts of possession of child pornography. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Police Department, around 2:10 p.m. Friday, investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested the 57-year-old for 15 counts of Possession of Pornographic…

Monday Update: Duluth Man Turns Self In After 6-Hour Standoff, Domestic Shooting Incident

  DULUTH, Minn. – (Monday Press Release) At approximately 5:54 p.m., Duluth Police Officers were dispatched to the 700 block of E 1st St for sounds of shots fired. Initial information received from the victim stated a male, later identified as 36-year-old Duluth resident Valentino Dodge, was inside the residence on the 700 block of E 1st St after having a domestic…

Killing Of Chippewa Falls Girl: Charges Reveal Graphic Details Of Lily Peters’ Death

(FOX 9) – A newly unsealed criminal complaint reveals additional graphic details about the killing of Iliana “Lily” Peters, a 10-year-old girl from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The redacted criminal complaint describing gruesome details of Peters’ murder was made public by a judge in a court hearing on Thursday after its sealed filing on April 27. A 14-year-old boy, whose identity is redacted…

Duluth Student Brings Loaded Gun To ALC

DULUTH, Minn. — A student at Duluth’s Area Learning School brought a loaded gun into a classroom on Wednesday, according to the district administration. It was discovered by two staff members, who alerted an administrator. The student was taken away from the classroom and the gun was confiscated. Police then brought the student into custody. The student will face possible…

Public Joins Friends, Relatives in Mourning Sean, Riana, Shiway, Sadie Barry

Grief and laughter were brought out in the Marshall School Auditorium Sunday.

DULUTH, Minn.- Hundreds from the Duluth area and beyond joined relatives of the Barry Family at their Funeral Sunday as they shared their memories, paid their respects, and said farewell to Sean, Riana, Shiway, and Sadie. “I’d just like to thank everybody. The last 10 days, have been hard,” said Sean’s younger brother, Brian, holding back tears. The two parents,…

Relatives Encourage Community to Join in Celebrating Lives of Barry Family at Funeral Sunday

According to the Council President, the family plans to Livestream the funeral as well, and you can catch it on FOX 21 News at 9 Sunday.

DULUTH, Minn.- The community is asked to once again come together, this time to celebrate the lives of Sean, Rianna, Shiway, and Sadie Barry before they are laid to rest. The family is urging the public to join them for the funeral service Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Marshall School Auditorium. Duluth City Council President Arik Forsman, who was…

Chauvin Appeals Murder Conviction For Killing George Floyd

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of murder in the killing of George Floyd has appealed his conviction, saying among other things that the jury was intimidated by ongoing sometimes violent protests and prejudiced by excessive pre-trial publicity. Derek Chauvin asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals in a court filing Monday to reverse his conviction, reverse…

14-Year-Old Charged With First-Degree Murder In Killing Of Lily Peters

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (FOX 9) – The State of Wisconsin has requested a $1 million bond for the 14-year-old boy accused of killing 10-year-old Lily Peters. In a hearing Wednesday afternoon, the state alleges the suspect left the home the two were at together with the intent to rape and kill Peters. The suspect, who appeared in court via video, was charged with…

Duluth Police Investigate Drive-By Shooting of Home

Investigators determined the front of the residence was struck several times by gunshots, and an unknown vehicle fled the scene. 

DULUTH, Minn.- Several gunshots were fired at a Lincoln Park residence Tuesday night before a vehicle fled the scene, authorities said. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Police Department, around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday officers responded to the 2300 block of West 2nd Street. Investigators determined the front of the residence was struck several times by gunshots, and an unknown…

Chippewa Falls Girl Killed: Police Arrest Suspect In Lily Peters’ Death

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (FOX 9) – Chippewa Falls police say they have arrested a suspect in the killing of a 10-year-old girl, a shocking death that has rocked the small Wisconsin town. Chief Matt Kelm told reporters Tuesday evening the suspect was a juvenile who knew the victim 10-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters. Ten-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters was reported missing by her family…

Hundreds Remember Times with Barry Family at Vigil; Public Invited to Funeral May 1st

The surviving family is inviting the public to the funeral services for their four loved ones on May 1st at the Marshall School Auditorium starting at 1 p.m.

DULUTH, Minn.- To see the impact Sean, Rianna, Shiway, and Sadie Barry had on the people of Duluth, one need only look at the hundreds who gathered outside their house Sunday night to share in their grief and their memories. “The Christmas lights you see here tonight are a symbol of their values of love family and kindness,” Duluth Council…

Missing Wisconsin Girl’s Body Found, Police Investigating As Homicide

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (FOX 9) – The body of a 10-year-old Wisconsin girl who went missing Sunday evening has been found in a wooded area near a trail in Chippewa Falls. Police are considering this a homicide investigation. The Chippewa Falls Police Department said the body of Iliana “Lily” Peters was found at 9:15 a.m. on Monday in the wooded area near…

Community Comes Together Outside Barry Family House for Vigil in Memory

Friends and family members, city officials, police officers, and more came together to hang Christmas lights on the home on East 12th Street.

DULUTH, Minn.- At least 200 people coming out for a vigil outside the home of the Barry’s, to bring some light to a community darkened by the tragic murder of the two parents, their two little girls, and their family dog “It’s heartwarming to see the outpouring of support of people putting their Christmas lights on their houses in remembrance…

Community, Friends Decorate Barry Family House in Lights for Vigil Sunday

One of the main organizers, Thor Pakosz, was friends with the family for 5 years and even spent Easter with them.

DULUTH, Minn.- Lights were strung on and around the Barry family house on East 12th Street Saturday, as the Duluth community prepares to come together to remember the mother, father, and two young daughters killed by the family’s nephew Wednesday. A group of community members and those that knew the family spent the chilly rainy afternoon hanging Christmas lights, and…

Local Grief Resources Assisting Community Post Murder-Suicide

DULUTH, Minn. — While the tragic loss of the Barry family and their dog have weighed heavy on friends and family, they were also traumatizing to the officers who responded. Local mental health experts say it’s important anyone effected knows, and utilizes, the support services available to them. Events like this don’t happen often in Duluth, and it can leave…

BCA Identifies Man Shot, Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting in Chisholm

Authorities were looking for Michael Johnson, 38, of Chisholm, who had multiple felony charges out of Morrison County.

CHISHOLM, Minn.- The man killed in Chisholm and the officers who allegedly shot him have been identified by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. According to a spokesperson with the BCA, authorities were looking for Michael Johnson, 38, of Chisholm, who had multiple felony charges out of Morrison County. A deputy located his car outside the home on Central Avenue…