Mille Lacs County Sheriff Brent C. Lindgren reports that on September 9, 2018, at approximately 12:42 PM, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office 911 Public Safety Answering Point received a 911 call from an individual reporting that a person had been shot. The individual reported that the victim rang the doorbell and asked for a ride to the hospital.
Mille Lacs Tribal Police and DNR, Isle Police, and Mille Lacs County Sheriff Deputies, responded to the scene, along with Mille Lacs Health System Ambulance Service.
While on scene, law enforcement officers provided medical aid to the victim.
Mille Lacs Health System Emergency Medical Technicians arrived at the address and attempted life saving measures. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A crime scene was established, and Investigators from the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department and the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint death investigation.
An autopsy was conducted on Monday, September 10, 2018, by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office located in Ramsey, MN. The victim has been identified as Benjamin Charles Blake Jr., 34 years old of Onamia, MN. The preliminary results of the autopsy have identified the manner of death as being homicide and the cause of death appears to be from a gunshot wound of the torso. The final results of the autopsy are pending at this time.
This case remains under investigation by the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department, and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office. Further details may be released at a later date.
Currently, Investigators are seeking to identify a vehicle of interest. The vehicle is described as a 1999 through 2004 Oldsmobile Alero, four-door, gold or tan in color, with possible damage to the front of the hood above the passenger’s side headlight. A vehicle matching this description was observed in the area where Benjamin was located prior to and after the incident.
Above is a photograph of a possible vehicle of interest.
Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact either the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department at 320-532-3430 or the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office at 320-983-8257.