Three dead at Cloquet hotel, including likely shooter

Cloquet police have lifted the shelter-in-place order issued in response to a shooting at the Super 8 hotel in Cloquet. Law enforcement officials confirmed three people died, including one person they believe was the shooter.

Cloquet police issued an online warning to residents of Big Lake Road and Highway 33 area just after 7 p.m. Monday to remain home, lock doors and shelter in place as there was an active shooter incident in progress with the suspect still at large.

For several hours Monday, Jan. 8, the parking lot outside the hotel and the nearby Aldi store was awash in the flashing lights of police and emergency responder vehicles from Cloquet, Carlton and St. Louis County, Minnesota State Patrol and Fond du Lac police. Another 15-20 officers gathered at a command center outside the L&M Fleet Farm store a few blocks away, where they prepared for the worst while tracking live video from the scene.

At 7:56 p.m. police reported the area was secured and announced that police on-scene had located one person believed to be the shooter.

At 8:30 p.m. Commander Wade Rasch of the St. Louis County Sheriff's office dismissed the officers at L&M and headed for home with the command center trailer and a massive armored vehicle.

Rasch confirmed there were three fatalities. Although police believed there was no additional threat, he said people could expect to see a heavy police presence at the Super 8 area for much of the night.

There was no additional information available about the shooter or victims at the time. Look for more information from the Cloquet Police Department.