Man Arrested After Brutal Assault Leaves Grocery Store Clerk Dead in Minneapolis
Dec 13, 2023, 12:00 PM
In a shocking and gruesome incident, a man has been arrested for allegedly beating a store clerk to death and impaling him with a golf club at the Oak Grove Grocery store in Minneapolis. The tragic event unfolded just before 2 p.m. on a Friday, leaving the local community in shock and mourning the loss of a beloved individual.
According to a press release from the Minneapolis Police Department, officers responded to a call for a stabbing at the Oak Grove Grocery store. Upon arrival, they discovered the store clerk, a 66-year-old man identified as Robert Skafte, behind the counter with a golf club "impaled through his torso." First responders rushed Skafte to the hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.
A witness at the scene identified a 44-year-old suspect who had allegedly carried out the brutal assault. Police tracked the suspect to a nearby apartment, where he barricaded himself. To handle the situation, Minneapolis police deployed their SWAT team, drone unit, and negotiators.
After a tense six-hour standoff, law enforcement was successful in coaxing the suspect out of the apartment. At this time, the identity of the suspect has not been disclosed, and the motive behind the murder remains unknown.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara provided some details about the incident, stating, "It appears he [the suspect] then went behind the counter and began to assault and bludgeon the individual behind the counter in a very grotesque way."
While the police did not release the victim's name, the Oak Grove Grocery store, where Skafte worked, paid tribute to him on Facebook, saying, "We are devastated by the death of Robert Skafte, the heart and soul of the Oak Grove Grocery and the entire Loring Park Community." The store described Skafte as a "good neighbor," a "true friend," and the "best teammate."
Robert Skafte was not only known for his work at the grocery store but also for his talent in dance. He trained and danced with Westside Ballet in California during the early 1980s and was a professional dancer with the Kansas City Ballet from 1984 to 1994 before relocating to Minneapolis. For nearly two decades, he performed with the dance company Ballet of the Dolls, according to Minneapolis NBC affiliate KARE.
Additionally, Skafte was an active member of his community, overseeing the farmers market in Stevens Square for 16 consecutive years. His contributions to the community were widely acknowledged and appreciated.
The tragic death of Robert Skafte has left the Minneapolis community in shock and mourning. As the investigation into the motive behind this brutal assault continues, friends, neighbors, and fellow community members remember Skafte as a beloved figure who made significant contributions to both the local grocery store and the community at large. The arrest of the suspect provides some relief, but many questions remain unanswered in this deeply disturbing incident.
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According to a press release from the Minneapolis Police Department, officers responded to a call for a stabbing at the Oak Grove Grocery store. Upon arrival, they discovered the store clerk, a 66-year-old man identified as Robert Skafte, behind the counter with a golf club "impaled through his torso." First responders rushed Skafte to the hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.
A witness at the scene identified a 44-year-old suspect who had allegedly carried out the brutal assault. Police tracked the suspect to a nearby apartment, where he barricaded himself. To handle the situation, Minneapolis police deployed their SWAT team, drone unit, and negotiators.
After a tense six-hour standoff, law enforcement was successful in coaxing the suspect out of the apartment. At this time, the identity of the suspect has not been disclosed, and the motive behind the murder remains unknown.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara provided some details about the incident, stating, "It appears he [the suspect] then went behind the counter and began to assault and bludgeon the individual behind the counter in a very grotesque way."
While the police did not release the victim's name, the Oak Grove Grocery store, where Skafte worked, paid tribute to him on Facebook, saying, "We are devastated by the death of Robert Skafte, the heart and soul of the Oak Grove Grocery and the entire Loring Park Community." The store described Skafte as a "good neighbor," a "true friend," and the "best teammate."
Robert Skafte was not only known for his work at the grocery store but also for his talent in dance. He trained and danced with Westside Ballet in California during the early 1980s and was a professional dancer with the Kansas City Ballet from 1984 to 1994 before relocating to Minneapolis. For nearly two decades, he performed with the dance company Ballet of the Dolls, according to Minneapolis NBC affiliate KARE.
Additionally, Skafte was an active member of his community, overseeing the farmers market in Stevens Square for 16 consecutive years. His contributions to the community were widely acknowledged and appreciated.
The tragic death of Robert Skafte has left the Minneapolis community in shock and mourning. As the investigation into the motive behind this brutal assault continues, friends, neighbors, and fellow community members remember Skafte as a beloved figure who made significant contributions to both the local grocery store and the community at large. The arrest of the suspect provides some relief, but many questions remain unanswered in this deeply disturbing incident.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com