The suspect fatally shot a man and then kidnapped a family, authorities said

MAPLE GROVE TOWNSHIP, Minn. (FOX 9) – A man was found mortally wounded before a suspect kidnapped a pregnant mother and her four children at gunpoint, according to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

READ MORE: Amber Alert canceled: family found safe, suspect arrested

A fatal shooting, a kidnapping and an Amber Alert

Crow Wing County deputies responded to a shooting on Lorch Road in Maple Grove Township, east of Brainerd, around 1:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, where they found Lyle Musk, 62, of Brainerd, dead for an obvious reason. gunshot wound.

Authorities identified the suspect as 35-year-old Brainerd. Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang told FOX 9 the suspect set fire to a shed on the property after shooting Maske.

The suspect then kidnapped his pregnant girlfriend and her four children at gunpoint, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said. He fired a rifle into the ceiling of the house and forced the family to leave with him.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office said “there is reason to believe that the shooting death and apparent kidnapping are related incidents.” BCA said the fatal shooting and abduction happened at a “detached house next door.”

The abduction of a woman and her four children around 1:50 a.m. Friday prompted an Amber Alert and authorities saw the suspect flee in an unknown direction in a white van.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office said the woman and her children were found unharmed around 7:15 a.m. Friday when the suspect’s vehicle was found in nearby Morrison County.

According to the authorities, the suspect was detained without incident.

What we don’t know

Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting or what prompted the abduction.

Sheriff Klang would not elaborate on the relationship between the suspect and the victims, only telling FOX 9 that they were all neighbors. The suspect did talk about his relationship and shared children with the pregnant kidnapping victim on social media.

The suspects have not yet been charged.

This is an evolving story. Check for updates.