Motive unknown, new gun safety laws take effect

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1 year ago / 56 Views

After a Monday night shooting in Cloquet that left three dead including the suspected gunman, police have yet to find a motive.

The shooting comes just after a number of state-wide gun safety measures took effect, including universal background checks and “red flag” laws.

What happened in Cloquet

On Monday, Cloquet police responded to a 911 call from a Super 8 motel employee who said they found a coworker at the front desk with a gunshot wound, according to a press release. The 22-year-old female was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police then found the body of a 35-year-old man from Deer River in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz holds up a just-signed gun control bill Friday, May 19, 2023, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Walz signed a sweeping public safety bill into law, including two gun measures: universal background checks and a red flag-style provision allowing law enforcement to intervene when someone is at high risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm.

The body of a second man was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and handgun next to him. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the motel and determined the man to be the suspect. The man has been identified as a 32-year-old from Ramsey. His and the victims’ names are yet to be released.

The town, 20 miles west of Duluth, underwent a shelter-in-place order for two hours before police determined there was no threat to the public.

More:3 people dead, including suspected gunman, in shooting at Cloquet, Minnesota hotel: Police

Gov. Tim Walz addressed the situation in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“I am praying for those killed in another senseless act of gun violence tonight in Cloquet. To the law enforcement officers who responded, thank you. The state stands ready to provide continued support to local authorities.”

New “red flag” law

In May, Gov. Walz signed into law a sweeping set of gun safety legislation. Effective as of Jan. 1, provisions of the law include the following:

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO): Otherwise known as “red flag” laws, a police chief, family member, guardian, county or city attorney are allowed to intervene and temporarily remove the weapon when an individual is an imminent threat to themselves or others with a firearm. ERPOs include both emergency and long-term orders.

Universal background checks: Background checks are now required for private transfers of semiautomatic weapons and pistols. This does not apply to private transfers of hunter rifles or transfers between immediate members of a family.
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investment: $43 million over four years will be invested in the BCA to combat violent crime.
Limit on no-knock warrants: No-knock warrants are now limited in their use, requiring the imminent threat of death or harm to persons around or the search cannot be executed while the premise is unoccupied.

Data from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension show homicides in the state have decreased significantly since a spike in 2020. As of November 2023, there were 150 homicides in the state.

Minnesota joined 20 other states and the District of Columbia with the adoption of the red flag laws.

More:2024’s new gun laws change the rules of firearm ownership in America. Here’s how

A 2023 poll conducted by KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA found that the majority of Minnesotans support these safety measures. 74% approve background checks and, of the nearly 700 respondents polled, 63% support red flag laws both with majority support in urban and rural areas.

If you or someone you know experiencing a crisis, call or text 988, Suicide Crisis Lifeline, or text MN to 741741. If you or someone you know is at imminent risk, contact 911 and ask for the Crisis Intervention Team.

— Sam Woodward is the Minnesota Elections Reporting Fellow for USA Today. You can reach her at swoodward@gannet.com or on X @woodyreports

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