In a tragic turn of events, a St. Paul father was killed while defending his wife’s car from an attempted burglary. Local authorities have since detained a 17-year-old male in connection with the fatal incident.
Michael Brasel, a 44-year-old father of two and admired youth hockey coach, was fatally wounded in front of his home early Saturday morning. The incident unfolded shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Chilcombe Avenue in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood. Investigators believe that Brasel was shot while trying to prevent the suspect from breaking into his wife’s car.
Brasel, who sustained numerous gunshot wounds, was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries within half an hour, as confirmed by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Thanks to community tips, a SWAT team was able to execute a search warrant on Wednesday. This led them to the 1600 block of Reaney Avenue, where they successfully apprehended the teenage suspect. The exact circumstances leading to the arrest remain undisclosed.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry was resolute in his statement following the arrest, warning that gun violence would not be tolerated in the city. The apprehended teen is to be processed at a juvenile detention center as the legal procedures commence.
At this stage, the police are withholding additional information as the case remains active and ongoing. They are also investigating the possibility of other individuals being involved in the incident.
The community is rallying to honor Brasel’s memory with a candlelight vigil scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at the Langford Park Recreation Center in St. Paul.