Minnesota grocery store clerk dies after customer impales him with a golf club, police say

MINNEAPOLIS– A store clerk in Minneapolis died after a customer punched and speared him with a golf club, police said.

The 66-year-old clerk was attacked Friday at the Oak Grove Grocery, a small convenience store in a residential neighborhood near downtown Minneapolis. A 44-year-old suspect is being held on suspicion of murder.

Police responded to a call just before 1 p.m. and found the victim behind the counter “with a golf club impaled through his torso,” according to a news release from the Minneapolis Police Department. The receptionist died in a hospital.

Information from witnesses led police to an apartment building across the street. Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference late Friday that the suspect barricaded himself inside for six hours. After lengthy negotiations, officers were able to take the man into custody without incident, O'Hara said.

Police are still investigating the motive for the attack. O'Hara said it appeared the suspect had picked up some items from the store to purchase and brought them to the counter.

“It appears he then went behind the counter and then attacked and knocked down the person behind the counter in a very grotesque manner,” O'Hara said.

Neighbors told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the clerk was a longtime fixture at the grocery store.

“We are broken; our hearts are broken,” said Manuela Torres, who said she was a friend of the victim.

A memorial outside the store was decorated with candles, flowers and a photo.

“We know this neighborhood is hurting tonight,” O'Hara said.