Charges: Man fatally shot girlfriend during argument at Brooklyn Center home

By KSTP

Mugshot of Michael Klinger Credit: Hennepin County Jail

An Anoka man has been formally charged with murder after he allegedly shot and killed his off-again-on-again girlfriend Sunday in Brooklyn Center.

Michael Isaac Klinger, 36, is charged with second-degree intentional murder, first-degree aggravated controlled substance crime and illegal gun possession.

Brooklyn Center police were called to a home on 68th Avenue North at around 1 p.m. on a report of a shooting. There, officers found a woman facedown on the couch with two apparent gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tuesday, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as 34-year-old Katie Ann Fredrickson.

A man told police he and his girlfriend were spending the night at Fredrickson’s home and were in a bedroom when they heard Klinger and Fredrickson loudly arguing. A criminal complaint states the man and his girlfriend then heard a gunshot and, out of fear for their lives, left the home through a bedroom window and ran away. As they ran, the man said he heard Fredrickson yell, “just stop, Mike,” and then two more gunshots.

The man’s girlfriend added that she wasn’t able to get over a large fence so she went to her vehicle when Klinger came outside and told her, “you aren’t going to tell the truth.” He then drove away.

According to the complaint, Klinger’s vehicle was rented from Avis Rental, which gave police the vehicle’s location due to the circumstances. Officers then tracked it to St. Louis Park and arrested Klinger as he approached the vehicle.

Police noted Klinger had a backpack that had four handguns inside — three of which were stolen — as well as nearly a pound of meth and more than $5,300 in cash. More ammunition was found in his hotel room.

His previous convictions prohibit him from legally having a gun.

Klinger’s first court appearance is set for Wednesday afternoon.

He faces up to 40 years in jail, if convicted.