Cloquet Police: Still no clear motive or connection between shooter and victims

By WDIO

It’s now been almost three weeks since a shooting in Cloquet rocked the Northland. The alleged shooter, Nicholas Lenius, was a guest at the Super 8 Motel on January 8. Police believe he shot the clerk, Shellby Trettel first, then went outside and shot Patrick Roers, of Deer River, before turning the gun on himself.

Police Chief Derek Randall sent out an update on Monday, January 29 saying authorities continue to investigate.

“Currently, we have not established a clear motive for the shooting, nor have we uncovered any connections between the suspect and the victims. Our detectives continue to pursue all leads and avenues of inquiry to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired.”
Statement from Cloquet Police Chief Derek Randall

According to the report, Chief Derek Randall says they continue to examine the digital evidence obtained from the scene, which could provide insights into what lead up to the incident.

Chief Randall said in the update, “Additionally, we have been informed that the final autopsy report, including toxicology results, is anticipated to be available within the next 4-6 weeks. We expect these findings to help us understand the incident better.”

Randall wanted to make sure the community knows the Department continues to be committed to this case.

“As we continue our investigation, I assure the community we remain committed to transparency and justice. We will provide additional updates as soon as we get more information and after consulting with our detectives and the county attorney’s office.”
Statement from Cloquet Police Chief Derek Randall

GoFundMe pages have been set up for the two victims in this case – Shellby Marie Trettel and Patrick Jeffrey Roers.