UPDATE (5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10): An Elk River Police Officer’s son has been identified as the gunman in an incident that left two men dead in a St. Michael home.
Christopher Besser, 21, was booked into the Wright County Jail shortly after midnight Sunday, May 10 on charges of second degree murder.
The deceased are Officer Todd Besser, 49, a veteran of the Elk River Police Department and the United States Air Force, and his son, Blake, 27. Both were victims of gunshot wounds.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Department released this statement Sunday, May 10 around 6 p.m.:
On Saturday, May 9th, at approximately 7:06pm the Wright County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a 911 from a male party at 4570 Mayfield Ave NE, City of St. Michael, advising that he had been shot.
Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the residence. Upon entering the home officers found Blake Besser, age 27, in the kitchen deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Located in the basement was Todd Besser, age 49 of Otsego, who was also deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
At approximately 7:45pm, on May 9th, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a call from Christopher Besser, age 21 of St. Michael. Christopher advised that he was at the Kwik Stop gas station, located at 318 W Broadway in the City of Monticello, and wanted to turn himself in. Wright County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to his location and Christopher was taken into custody without incident.
This incident is under investigation by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Criminal Division. At this time this incident appears to be a domestic situation, no other suspects are being sought.
Further updates/information on this investigation will be handled in conjunction with the Wright County Attorney’s Office.
More details will come Monday as full charges are released by the Wright County Attorney’s Office
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ORIGINAL STORY
An off-duty Elk River Police Officer has been officially identified by Elk River city officials as one of the two men murdered in yesterday’s shooting in St. Michael.
Officer Todd Besser, a veteran on the Elk River PD, was shot by one of his sons in a domestic incident, according to a report filed today by Paul Walsh of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Elk River Mayor Jon Dietz and Police Chief Ron Nierenhausen said Besser worked in the department 16 years, Walsh reports. He had just finished his Saturday shift at 6 p.m., less than an hour before the shooting took place in the 4500 block of Mayfield Avenue Northeast in St. Michael.
A suspect, who witnesses said was in his early 20s, turned himself into authorities about an hour after the shooting, or around 8 p.m., by calling Wright County Dispatch via 911 emergency from a phone at the Kwik Stop in Monticello. The man was quickly taken into custody.
The other victim of the shooting has not been identified, but is suspected to be the shooter’s brother, according to audio obtained by Police Clips via a police scanner feed.
Sheriff Joe Hagerty made his first comments on the case today, saying the investigation is active and a “suspected weapon,” a firearm, has been found. Hagerty added that the public is not in any danger, and that the incident was a “domestic.”
Hagerty said the county is working with the state medical examiner’s office in the investigation, and will work with the Wright County Attorney’s Office on charges to be filed Monday.