Victim of ‘suspicious death’ at Minneapolis apartment identified

Authorities have identified the man whose death was considered suspicious last weekend at a Minneapolis apartment.

According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, the man has been identified as 67-year-old Duane Kevin Brown of Minneapolis.

As previously reported, Brown was found dead Sunday, June 12 after firefighters were called to a fire alarm just after 9 a.m. that day near 17th Street East and Third Avenue.

Although no fire was found, they found a man who was dead from “injuries not related to any fire.”

Minneapolis police eventually learned another man had been in the apartment, and arrested 55-year-old Charles Brown on suspicion of murder.

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Although police have classified Duane Brown’s death as a homicide, the manner of his death is still pending.

A criminal complaint states firefighters found Duane Brown’s body lying face-down on the floor of the apartment living room, and a large pool of congealed blood around his head.

The complaint says when police arrived, they found Charles Brown had dried blood on his arm and fingernails but no injuries that would account for that much blood.

The complaint continues to describe several signs of a struggle inside the living room. A TV and lamp were both overturned, and there were several broken bottles of liquor and blood splattered around the room.

There was also evidence that a stool was used to strike a victim. The body was found to have suffered blunt force trauma to the head, along with multiple stab wounds to the head and chest area. The deceased victim was also found holding a large kitchen knife by the blade.

Investigators say they also found shoes with blood on them that matched the shoes worn by Charles Brown seen in surveillance video.

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When speaking to investigators, Charles Brown said he had been friends with the victim for years and that they crossed paths on Saturday. The two then decided to go back to his apartment around noon to drink. Charles Brown said they drank heavily and that he eventually fell asleep in the bedroom. Charles Brown said he awoke and found the victim dead, became emotionally distraught, then curled into a ball in the bedroom until firefighters arrived.

Investigators say Charles Brown claimed to have no knowledge of what happened to the victim, and denied having any kind of fight with the victim or needing to defend himself.

Duane Brown’s death was the 41st homicide in the city this year.