Support West St. Paul Reader by becoming a patron.
One person is dead and another arrested early Monday morning in West St. Paul. 38-year-old group home resident John C. Adams II allegedly stabbed another male resident of the group home repeatedly in the face. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested Adams at the scene and he will face charges later this week.
Update (Feb. 19): The victim has been identified as 68-year-old David Eugene Rahn.
The incident happened at a state-run group home at 1546 Christensen Avenue in West St. Paul. Police Chief Brian Sturgeon told the Pioneer Press that the residence is not “on our regular radar. It’s not a problem group home, so to speak.”
The Pioneer Press shared this statement from Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead:
“Ensuring the safety of every resident and staff member in a DHS-operated facility is our top priority. That is why this incident is both rare and tragic for everyone involved. Our hearts go out first to the victim and his family and friends who will be mourning his loss. Incidents of this severity are extraordinarily unusual at DHS inpatient or residential facilities. We are assisting police in their ongoing investigation and have begun our own internal review of this heartbreaking attack. This is traumatic for the other resident of the home and our staff members, so we are also making sure that they get the care that they need. Under data privacy laws, we cannot provide any further information about our clients or staff.”
More:
- Official statement from West St. Paul Police Department.
- Official statement from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office on charges.
- Pioneer Press
- Star Tribune
- Fox 9
- KSTP
- WCCO
Support West St. Paul Reader by becoming a patron.
West St. Paul Reader 