Five found dead at home in Duluth’s East Hillside

Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken says five people were found dead at an East Hillside residence on Wednesday afternoon.

He called it an “unimaginable tragedy” that “is very, very difficult for us, that is makes us have heavy, heavy hearts.”

Tusken said the situation began when the Hermantown Police Department responded to a request to check on someone at 11:18 a.m. Hermantown Police were unable to make contact with that person but provided information to the Duluth Police Department that led them to a home in the 700 block of East 12th Street.

Duluth Police obtained information indicating that the subject had access to weapons. With assistance from other agencies, Tusken said police conducted a “methodical search” of the residence and located five deceased people, as well as a deceased dog.

The names of those found dead have not yet been released because family members are still being notified.

Tusken said they do not believe there is a threat to public safety at this time.

Personnel from the Duluth, Superior, and Hermantown police departments, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, St. Louis County Social Services, DPD CORE Unit, and Mayo Ambulance were on the scene.

Police say their investigation remains active and ongoing. They plan to release more information on Thursday.

City spokesperson Kate Van Daele said Mayor Emily Larson is out of town but has been monitoring the situation and sends her condolences to the family.