A man is in custody on Tuesday after a shots fired incident started in Minneapolis and ended with one dead and another injured west of the Twin Cities.

Law enforcement booked Ameer Matariyeh, 25, of Minneapolis into the Kandiyohi County Jail on probable cause second-degree murder after he allegedly fired a weapon off a balcony in Minneapolis, fled police, and shot and killed a person near Willmar.

Around 12:30 p.m., Minneapolis police responded to a report of a person shooting from the balcony of an apartment building in Uptown.

At least two people were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, including the ex-girlfriend of Matariyeh and her current boyfriend. Law enforcement says those two people and Matariyeh got into an altercation, and shots were fired. No one was injured in that incident.

During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter and his ex-girlfriend have a child together. That information led law enforcement to respond to the child’s day care in the 5th Precinct, Chief O’Hara said.

The day care was placed into lockdown, and the child was safely brought to a relative’s home.

Law enforcement eventually contacted Matariyeh by phone, and crisis negotiators spoke with him “for some time.” However, officials later learned he was no longer in his apartment and was traveling outside of the Twin Cities.

The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office says Matariyeh traveled west through several counties before shooting and injuring a man, identified Wednesday as 25-year-old Peter Mayerchak of Lake Lillian, at a rural Kandiyohi County home. He is expected to survive his injuries and is in stable condition, according to authorities.

The suspect was then pursued to the Highway 71/23 bypass southeast of Willmar, where law enforcement says he “attempted a carjacking” before fatally shooting 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek of New London.

Neighbors of Skluzacek told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Wednesday that people who knew him called him “Jerry,” including a man next door, who said Skluzacek was a friend and a good and very handy neighbor.

Matariyeh was eventually booked into Kandiyohi County Jail on multiple charges, including murder, according to the sheriff’s office.

Peggy Gilbert, the mother of one of the first responders, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Wednesday, “I’m on the farm by myself, and at night, I lock my doors; you never know. But I didn’t think I’d have to lock my doors during the day.”

“[I] didn’t really get a chance to meet him or anything, but kind of a sad way to meet him,” she added.

“Today, multiple lives were put in harm’s way, with one person sadly losing their life,” Kandiyohi County Sheriff spokesperson Imran Ali said. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. Please continue to hold the victims, their families, and our first responders in your prayers today.”

Officers from Minneapolis later executed a search warrant in the apartment building and confirmed that no other victims were in the unit.

“After he left Minneapolis… it appears that crimes occurred, some tragedy has occurred outside of the city — and that occurred in Western counties,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

“I know our officers did absolutely everything they could, but it appears this individual was homicidal and just bent on committing violence,” O’Hara added.

During the investigation, Minneapolis Police blocked off a few blocks on Lyndale Avenue in Uptown — from at least Lake Street to West 28th Street — as they searched the apartment building.

During the press conference, O’Hara added, “I do not have any information to indicate that there had been a history of domestic violence between these two individuals; however, I would remind the community that whenever folks are in a situation that may be elevated due to heat of passion or something involving a relationship if folks want to, they can make arrangements and police will come by and assist.”

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If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, several resources are available to offer help. For immediate help, contact:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
• Minnesota Day One at 866-223-1111.
• The Women’s Advocates crisis line at 651-227-8284.

More than 12 million people just in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence every year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those.

Other organizations that can help include:

• Violence Free Minnesota at 651-646-6177 or 800-289-6177.
• Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project at 612-343-9842.
• Mending the Sacred Hoop at 888-305-1650.
• Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 612-209-9993.

Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE.