The Minnesota Attorney General’s office announced today the charges against Daniel Sidney Schlienz, 42, of Grand Marais, related to the shooting at the courthouse on Thursday, December 15. Schlienz was arraigned at the St. Louis County District Court. He has been charged with two counts of premeditated attempted first-degree murder.
Additional charges filed were one count of assault in the 4th degree, one count of possession of a dangerous weapon with ammunition within a courthouse, one count of obstructing arrest and one count of possession of a weapon by a felon.
"The shooting of a prosecutor and trial witness inside a courthouse strikes at the foundation of the pillars of justice," Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson said after the charges were announced.
Injured in the incident were two shooting victims—County Attorney Tim Scannell and a subpoenaed witness in the trial that had just ended, Greg Thompson. Cook County Sheriff Deputy/Court Bailiff Gary Radloff was injured in a struggle with Schlienz, as was Assistant County Attorney Molly Hicken. They were transported to Cook County North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais where they were treated and released.
Scannell and Thompson were transported by Cook County Ambulance to Essentia Health Medical Center in Duluth, MN. Both men suffered three gunshot wounds. Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center spokeswoman Beth Johnson described Scannell’s condition as fair and Thompson’s condition as good.
Schlienz, was taken into custody inside the courthouse after being subdued by Deputy/Bailiff Radloff and State Trooper Chris Thostenson.
The Cook County courthouse will reopen for business at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20. The county board meeting will meet in the commissioners room at 10 a.m. as scheduled. The Human Services Board, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. has been moved to 1:30 p.m. from its regular 8:30 a.m. time.
A meeting for all County Employees will be held in the Commissioner’s Room at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20. Representatives from Law Enforcement and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be present to provide support and assistance, information and answer questions.
Leave a Reply