Authorities have identified the man who was fatally shot during an assault in a Koochiching County home this weekend.
The St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Benjamin Beaudoin, 34, of Mendota Heights, Minn.
Beaudoin was shot shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday after the second of two assaults he allegedly committed, the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday. Bradley Himes, 48, has been identified as the person who shot Beaudoin at Himes’ home on the 5700 block of U.S. Highway 53 in Koochiching County. The assault victim has been identified as Ethal Himes, 72, Bradley’s mother.
According to the preliminary investigation, at 5:19 a.m. Saturday a Koochiching County sheriff’s deputy responded to a 911 call about a break-in and assault at the home of Neil and Jody Reller, in the 4200 block of U.S. Highway 53 in Koochiching County. The Rellers told investigators that a man, later identified as Beaudoin, burst into the home through a locked door. Neil Reller retrieved a shotgun and engaged in a struggle with Beaudoin, during which Reller struck Beaudoin several times over the head, breaking the stock off the gun, according to officials.
The struggle continued until Beaudoin fled the home in his vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
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While the sheriff’s deputy was taking the report, a 911 call came in of an incident at the Himes residence. The deputy responded to the second location, and saw Beaudoin’s vehicle in the driveway.
Ethal Himes told authorities she offered to let into her home a man, now identified as Beaudoin, who showed up at her door with blood on his face saying that he’d been assaulted. Beaudoin allegedly then grabbed Himes, throwing her to the living room floor, choking her and beating her head on the floor. Bradley Himes came into the room and saw what was happening. When Beaudoin did not respond to his demands to stop the assault, Bradley Himes went to his bedroom to retrieve a handgun. Beaudoin followed him and lunged at him, at which time Bradley Himes shot Beaudoin, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputy administered first aid to Beaudoin at the scene. He was taken by ambulance to Rainy Lake Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
“The Koochiching County Attorney’s Office has been briefed on the July 26 shooting in Ray, Minn.,” said Jeff Naglosky, Koochiching County Attorney. “At this time, reports are not available from the Minnesota BCA crime scene team or the St. Louis County Medical Examiner. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no further comment is appropriate at this time.”
The Koochiching County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime Scene Team. Ambulances from International Falls and Kabetogama assisted at the scene. The International Falls Police Department assisted at the hospital.
