A 17-year-old boy was killed and four others seriously injured when they were stabbed while on a cruise on the busy Apple River in Wisconsin on Saturday, law enforcement officials said.
The suspect, a 52-year-old Minnesota man, fled the scene but was apprehended by police about an hour and a half after the incident began with the help of witnesses in the river. Authorities have not released the names of the suspect or the victim.
According to police, the dead victim was also from Minnesota, the surviving victims are described as a woman and three men, all in their 20s. The suspect had no knife on him when in custody and Police are still searching for the weapon.
Sheriff of St. Croix Scott Knudson said investigators did not immediately know the motive for the attack but said the suspect and victim were in the river in two separate groups when the incident happened.
“At this point, we’re not sure what started this incident,” sheriff said at a press conference on Saturday. “Everybody believes everyone was involved.”
Knudsen described the scene as “scary” and “chaotic.”
“I’m sure anyone who witnessed this will never forget it,” he said. “So it’s a tragedy.”
The Apple River in Somerset, Wisconsin – a town about 35 miles from Minneapolis – is a popular spot for camping in the area. Resident Kat Fenton, who says she helped the father of one of the stabbing victims, tell local outlet FOX 9 she was shocked by the stabbing at such a famous summer place.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “This is not okay. People just come here to have fun.”
Contributing: Mike Hart, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
