A Minnesota man, Kirk Edward Hazlett III, 31, has been charged with killing his father, 64-year-old Kirk Edward Hazlett II, in front of relatives at a hunting cabin in Hinckley.
According to police records obtained by North Pine County News, Hazlett allegedly fired nine shots at his father on November 15, including a fatal shot to the head, leaving the victim lying in a pool of blood on the living room floor.
Hazlett faces multiple charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of first-degree burglary.
The Pine County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting around 8:44 p.m. on Friday after a 911 caller reported that two men had arrived at his house claiming Hazlett had killed his father. The men directed investigators to the cabin, where deputies found the victim dead with multiple gunshot wounds.
Hazlett’s uncle, who witnessed the incident, told investigators that he, another man, and the victim were finishing dinner when they noticed someone armed approaching the property via a trail camera. Moments later, they heard gunshots.
Court documents reveal that Hazlett entered the cabin with a gun and ordered the men to sit on the couch. He then shot his father in the head to ensure he was dead, according to the uncle. Hazlett reportedly confiscated the men’s cell phones before allowing them to leave.
The uncle described a longstanding conflict between Hazlett and his father, saying the two “weren’t getting along and hadn’t for a very long time.” Another witness stated that Hazlett entered the cabin “with a mission…to kill [his father],” executing him in cold blood.
Later that evening, around 9:18 p.m., Hazlett contacted police in Isanti County to report that his girlfriend was making suicidal comments. Authorities traced his phone to a location about eight miles from the crime scene.
Police records also indicate a prior incident a month before the shooting when Hazlett, allegedly intoxicated and threatening his father, was removed from the property.
An autopsy confirmed that Hazlett’s father had been shot nine times. The investigation remains ongoing.
