Minnesota Man Accused of Executing Father in Rural Cabin Shooting

A disturbing incident in Minnesota has led to the arrest of a 31-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his father in what authorities describe as an “execution-style” killing. Kirk Edward Hazlett III of Cambridge is charged with second-degree murder and felony kidnapping following the incident at the family’s rural hunting cabin in Hinckley, Minnesota.

According to the Pine County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred on November 15, when tensions between Hazlett III and his 62-year-old father, Kirk Edward Hazlett II, escalated. Police were alerted to the shooting after receiving a 911 call around 8:44 p.m. from the victim’s brother, who reported that the son had just shot his father.

Upon arriving at the scene, police found the elder Hazlett lying face down on the floor near a couch with multiple casings of ammunition nearby. A postmortem examination revealed that the victim was shot nine times, including a fatal shot to the head above his left ear that exited at the right forehead.

The investigation revealed that the victim’s brother and another witness were present during the incident. They reported that Hazlett III directed them to sit on the couch and feared for their lives, believing they might be shot next. The witnesses described Hazlett III as appearing “very coherent” and not under the influence of any substances during the incident.

Hazlett III was arrested and booked in the Pine County Jail. The incident highlights long-standing tensions between Hazlett III and his family, with witnesses stating that he was not in good relations with them).