MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – A man has been taken into custody after allegedly beating a store clerk to death and impaling him with a golf club at the Oak Grove Grocery store on Friday. The incident, which occurred just before 2 p.m., left the 66-year-old victim with a golf club “impaled through his torso,” according to police.
First responders rushed the victim to the hospital, but he tragically succumbed to his injuries. Police were alerted to the stabbing by a witness, who later identified a suspect. Law enforcement officers tracked the 44-year-old individual to a nearby apartment, where he barricaded himself.
To handle the tense situation, the Minneapolis police deployed their SWAT team, drone unit, and negotiators. After a six-hour standoff, the suspect was eventually convinced to surrender. Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s identity or a motive for the murder.
The victim has been identified by the grocery store as Robert Skafte. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Oak Grove Grocery mourned his passing, describing him as “the heart and soul” of their establishment and the larger Loring Park Community. Skafte, who was also an acclaimed dancer, had been an active member of various neighborhoods and oversaw the farmers market in Stevens Square for 16 consecutive years.
This shocking incident has left the community devastated and in mourning. Skafte’s friends, neighbors, and fellow dancers have come together to honor his memory, erecting a small memorial outside the grocery store.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara provided further details of the incident, stating that the suspect entered the store, made a purchase, and then approached the counter. It was at this point that he began a violent attack against Skafte, bludgeoning him in a “very grotesque way.”
The investigation into this horrific crime is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attack. In the wake of this tragedy, the Oak Grove Grocery store and the wider Minneapolis community are left mourning the loss of a beloved neighbor, friend, and dedicated member of their community.