In the early morning hours of July 5, 1988, the quiet of Claremont, Minnesota, was shattered by a violent encounter that would claim the life of its dedicated police chief. Gregory Lynn Lange, a 39-year-old White/Caucasian male, was at his home when a neighbor came to his door in distress, reporting a domestic disturbance unfolding nearby, less than 200 feet from where the chief lived.
Though off-duty, Lange responded to the call for help.
Upon his arrival at the scene to assist the female victim, Chief Lange was ambushed by two brothers. The men, later identified as Andrew and Robert Salinas, overpowered the chief. In the ensuing struggle, one of the brothers gained control of Lange's service weapon. The chief was beaten with a shovel and then fatally shot. The two assailants fled the state, making their way to Missouri before they were eventually apprehended by law enforcement.
The subsequent investigation and legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for the slain chief. Andrew Salinas, the man who fired the fatal shot, was convicted of first-degree murder and received a life sentence. His brother, Robert Salinas, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 18.5 years in prison. Over the years, Andrew Salinas has been denied parole on multiple occasions, with his next hearing anticipated in 2025. Robert Salinas was paroled in 2000 but was returned to prison for parole violations. After another parole in 2003, he was apprehended while attempting to enter Mexico with a stolen vehicle and was again sent back to prison before being paroled once more in 2007.
