St. Michael (trfnews.i234.me) — Spirit Lake County, ND Grieves After Brutal Triple Homicide
A horrifying scene unfolded in Spirit Lake County early Tuesday morning, March 4, as three members of the Spirit Lake Tribe were gunned down in a shocking act of violence in St. Michael.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs alerted the tribe at approximately 9:30 a.m., triggering shelter-in-place orders and a full lockdown of all tribal departments. The community remained on edge as law enforcement worked to track down the suspect.
By 1:20 p.m., authorities confirmed the suspect was apprehended, though officials have not yet released details on their identity or current detention location. The lockdown order has since been lifted, but the Spirit Lake Tribal Council has granted administrative leave to all tribal employees in the wake of the tragedy.
“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families,” stated tribal leadership. “We ask for the community’s empathy and support as we grieve together.”
While officials have not yet named the victims or the suspect, law enforcement continues its investigation, urging the public to respect the privacy of those affected. The community is also being provided with grief counseling services through:
Spirit Lake Behavioral Health: 701-766-1613 Spirit Lake Suicide Prevention: 701-381-0047
This devastating tragedy has rocked the community, leaving residents seeking answers and justice for the lives lost. Authorities will release more details as the investigation unfolds.
Stay with TRF News for the latest updates on this developing story.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News