St. Cloud, MN – A 31-year-old man was arrested in St. Cloud after allegedly shooting and assaulting his roommates in a violent early morning incident, according to police reports. The suspect, identified as Austin Robert Gerads, reportedly attacked his roommates while one of them was asleep, leading to a chaotic struggle involving gunfire and physical violence.
The incident unfolded when St. Cloud police were called to a home on 8th Avenue South after receiving reports of shots being fired. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered two men, aged 44 and 55, both wounded. They immediately pointed to Gerads, who they lived with, as the assailant.
Investigations indicate that the turmoil started when Gerads supposedly entered the bedroom of the 44-year-old victim and shot him in the shoulder. According to victim statements given to the police, Gerads accused him of egregious harm involving his daughter followed by a second shot that grazed the man’s face, escalating to a physical altercation over the gun.
As the two men struggled, the older roommate attempted to intervene, only to be met with violence as Gerads allegedly hit him with a metal object. The melee concluded when the younger man managed to dispose of the weapon, throwing it out of immediate reach.
Responding emergency medical teams rushed the shot individual to St. Cloud Hospital, confirming later that the injuries, though serious, were not life-threatening. The second victim received onsite medical attention for minor injuries and was subsequently released.
The suspect attempted to escape on foot but was quickly apprehended by police after a brief chase. A subsequent search of the scene revealed a handgun, shell casings, bullets, a metal pole stained with blood, and a small bag suspected to contain methamphetamine.
Court documents revealed some unsettling statements by Gerads, who implied the attack was justified, claiming without evidence, that his daughter was trapped in a basement trapdoor – a claim police found no proof of during their inspection of the premises.
Charges against Gerads include attempted second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempting to elude police. He is currently held in custody as authorities continue with their investigations.
The motive behind the attacks remains unclear, and detectives are pursuing all leads to understand the underlying reasons for this violent outbreak. Both victims are in recovery and expected to heal from their physical injuries, but the psychological scars from the incident may persist longer.
This case brings to light once again the troubling issues of domestic violence and mental health, spotlighting the urgent need for accessible mental health services and robust interventions to prevent such tragic incidents.