Kirk Edward Hazlett III is charged with criminal abduction and second-degree murder. Authorities say a 31-year-old Minnesota man is suspected of fatally shooting his dad nine times “execution style” at the family’s cabin in the country.
The Pine County Sheriff’s Office has charged Cambridge resident Kirk Edward Hazlett III, 31, with second-degree murder and criminal abduction in connection with the incident.
Tensions between Hazlett and his father, Kirk Edward Hazlett II, 62, came to a head on November 15 in Hinckley, Minnesota, according to authorities in a statement.
Around 8:44 p.m., police said a 911 caller reported a shooting, which initiated an investigation into the fatal incident. Police were told the victim’s brother had just shot his father by the caller.
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When the police arrived at the senior Hazlett’s two-bedroom country cottage, they found Hazlett II lying face down on the floor beside a couch and several spent gunshot casings on the ground beside him.
The 62-year-old was found with “a large amount of blood pooling on the ground near his head,” according to court records FOX 9 KMSP was able to obtain. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man had been shot nine times, according to a postmortem examination, with one bullet entering his head above his left ear and exiting at his right forehead.
The victim’s brother told investigators during the follow-up that he and another witness were wrapping up supper when he got a phone alert from a trail camera that someone was coming to the house with a pistol.
The witness saw his nephew carrying a pistol and heard three gunshots as he rushed to get his gun from his bedroom.
The witness testified that the 31-year-old instructed his uncle and the other witness to have a seat on the couch. They professed fear for their lives as they “believed Hazlett may shoot them next”.
The sibling told deputies the shooting victim was still alive as he was “breathing a little bit.” However, the local site said minutes later, Hazlett reportedly stepped over his father “and shot him in the head execution style,” according to court records.
As described by the witness, Hazlett III did not appear to have “entered with a mission. He entered to kill him.”
Both witnesses told police in their investigation that Hazlett III and the victim “weren’t getting along and hadn’t for a long time,” and that he was “not in good relations with their family.”
They said he “didn’t appear under the influence” of any drugs and that he was “very coherent” during the encounter.
After his arrest, Hazlett III was transported to the Pine County Jail, where he was booked.
Coming from Minneapolis, Hinckley lies about 80 miles to the north.
