In the small community of Fosston, Minnesota, the life of 31-year-old TeeJay Alvarez was cut short on June 9, 2026, a day after a violent encounter in a local apartment complex. The events that led to his untimely death began to unfold on the afternoon of Monday, June 8, when Fosston police responded to a 911 call about a disturbance possibly involving a firearm at an apartment complex on the 300 block of Mark Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers discovered that Alvarez had been shot inside one of the apartments. He was initially transported by a private vehicle to a local hospital before being airlifted to Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota, for more advanced medical care. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, TeeJay Alvarez succumbed to his gunshot wound the following morning.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement officers entered the apartment where the incident occurred and arrested a suspect, identified as 22-year-old Cory Burnette Jr. of Fosston, without incident. Burnette was taken into custody and held at the Northwest Regional Correctional Center in Crookston on probable cause for second-degree assault and discharge of a firearm. However, in a subsequent development, Burnette was released from custody. The Polk County Attorney's Office stated that a final charging decision would await the completion of the full investigation, which includes the final autopsy report for Alvarez. Authorities have indicated that they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public, despite the suspect's release. The investigation into the shooting remains active and ongoing, with the Fosston Police Department receiving assistance from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and other state agencies.
The motive behind the shooting has not been disclosed by investigators as they continue to piece together the circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation. The case is currently in a holding pattern pending the full results of the investigation and the coroner's report. Formal charges had not been filed against Cory Burnette Jr. as of the latest reports. The overview of the case is that TeeJay Alvarez, a 31-year-old man, was fatally shot in a Fosston apartment. A suspect, Cory Burnette Jr., was arrested at the scene but was later released from custody as the investigation continues, with any potential charges contingent on the final autopsy report and a complete review of the evidence by the county attorney's office.
