Officer Todd Besser, aged 49, was tragically killed on May 9, 2015, in his home in St. Michael, Minnesota. The incident also claimed the life of his 27-year-old son, Blake Besser. The suspect in this double homicide was Todd Besser's other son, Christopher Besser, who was 21 years old at the time. According to reports, Christopher Besser had been struggling with his father's expectations and, in a moment of intense frustration, he 'just lost it'.
On the evening of the incident, Todd
Besser had just finished his work shift and visited his sons at their home. Christopher, who had been drinking, retrieved a hunting rifle from the gun cabinet and shot his father in the back of the head. Moments later, he shot his brother Blake in the kitchen to eliminate any witnesses. After the shootings, Christopher left the house and was later arrested at a convenience store in Monticello, where he called 911 and confessed to the killings.
Christopher Besser was charged with two counts of intentional second-degree murder. During his court appearance, it was revealed that he had carried out the killings in an execution-style manner. The county attorney indicated plans to seek first-degree murder charges from a grand jury. The community of Elk River, where Todd Besser served as a police officer, was deeply affected by the tragedy, mourning the loss of a dedicated officer and his son.
