Rochester man identified as double homicide suspect after 23-year-old, 2-year-old found dead
[KSTP-TV]
UPDATE:
According to Hubbard Broadcasting sister station KAAL-TV, the Rochester Police Department has identified the suspect in Sunday’s double homicide.
Police identified the man as Renard Carter, 29, of Rochester.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference to provide additional information on the arrest and investigation.
The sheriff’s department said Rochester police relayed to them Sunday that Carter had reportedly killed his pregnant girlfriend and her 2-year-old daughter and that they believed he was heading to South Carolina to kill an ex-girlfriend. Authorities located the woman and took her to safety before later finding Carter in a hotel.
When authorities order Carter to come out of his room, he refused and threatened to shoot officers with a rifle. At about 10:10 p.m., the sheriff’s department said Carter opened the door carrying a rifle-style BB gun and three officers fired at him, injuring him.
Carter was taken to a hospital, where he remained under security as of Monday afternoon. His condition was unclear.
Rochester police are investigating the deaths of a pregnant 23-year-old and her 2-year-old daughter as homicides.
Police said the deaths are suspicious and that the two appeared to have died from some kind of trauma between Thursday and Sunday.
The two were found Sunday afternoon in an apartment building along the 400 block of Northeast 31st Street by family who were concerned about the 23-year-old after they hadn’t heard from her, police said.
The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies to determine the exact cause of death for both.
Hubbard Broadcasting affiliate KAAL-TV reports that police identified the 23-year-old as Kiona Foote and her 2-year-old daughter as Miyona Miller.
Police said a suspect in their deaths was taken into custody Sunday night in Columbia, South Carolina. The department also said the suspect is believed to be Foote’s boyfriend, who violated his probation by leaving the state, KAAL reports.
The investigation remains active.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Investigator Caban at 507-328-6928 or via email here.