A man from Minnesota, Kirk Edward Hazlett III, faces serious charges after he allegedly fatally shot his father, Kirk Edward Hazlett II, during what should have been a peaceful family hunting trip. The tragic incident unfolded on the evening of November 15, 2024, at their hunting cabin located near Hinckley, approximately 80 miles north of Minneapolis.
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Pine County Sheriff’s Office responded to emergency calls around 8:45 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots, and when deputies arrived, they found Kirk Edward Hazlett II lying face down near the couch inside the cabin, surrounded by spent shell casings. Authorities later confirmed he had been shot nine times, including one fatal shot to the head.
Details surrounding the events of the evening reveal growing tensions between Kirk Edward Hazlett III and his father. Reports indicate the father and son had not been getting along for quite some time, but the exact circumstances leading to the violent altercation remain unclear. Witnesses, including the father’s brother and another relative, were present during the grisly scene and described the horrifying moment when the younger Hazlett allegedly burst through the cabin door armed with a firearm.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the crime. One witness recalled receiving alerts from his motion-activated camera, signaling someone was approaching the cabin with a gun. Attempting to grab his own weapon, the witness heard gunfire erupt from within the cabin. Kirk Edward Hazlett III reportedly demanded the two men watch as he confronted his father.
“He entered with a mission,” one witness stated. “He entered to kill him.” The elder Hazlett was initially seen taking shallow breaths, visibly alive after being shot multiple times, only to suffer the final blow when his son allegedly shot him point-blank to finish the act.
After the shooting, Hazlett III allowed the witnesses to leave before phoning 911 later, ostensibly for an unrelated matter. When police apprehended him at his home in Cambridge, Kirk Edward Hazlett III was still wearing the same clothes he had on during the evening of the murder. Authorities charged him with second-degree murder, kidnapping, and burglary.
This incident has raised numerous questions about familial relationships, communication breakdowns, and the tragic spiral of conflict leading to such overwhelming violence within domestic circles.
Investigators continue to sift through the details, aiming to unravel the family disputes and anger management issues hinted by family members. Statements from several sources indicate this was not the first altercation between the father and son, and the police had previously responded to disturbances linked to the duo.
Kirk Edward Hazlett III has been held on significant bail as the investigation continues. The impact of this shooting ripples through the community, leaving friends and family grappling with the devastating loss and the dark circumstances surrounding it.
Legal experts anticipate challenges lying ahead as the case develops, with intense public interest fueled by the chilling nature of the crime and its familial ties.
