BELLE PLAINE, Minn. – St. Paul police are still investigating a fatal shooting they say they shocked their community.
Police say Carrie Kwok was killed Wednesday in a “cold-blooded” and “brutal” shooting in what appears to be a random attack.
The suspect, 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock, was murdered just hours laterduring a confrontation with St. Paul officers in Belle Plaine.
But St. Paul police also say there were warning signs in Murdock’s past that should have kept him away from guns.
“This murder that took place in our city, which led us to talk today about this officer-involved shooting, has all kinds of markers and flags that I think will emerge in the coming days,” Chief Axel Henry said.
The leader of the St. Paul Police Department says the warning signs in Murdock’s background should lead to more conversations about mental illness and guns.
And court records show why: In January 2023, Murdock’s mother took him to the emergency room for mental health issues.
During that time, Murdock physically and verbally abused staff and required “physical restraints and emergency medication,” records show. He indicated that he was “afraid of himself” and did not want to harm anyone, but then stated that he wanted to “kill others.”
Court documents say he posed a risk due to “mental illness” and “chemical dependency.”
There was a petition to commit him civilly, but the court instead granted him a stay of bond.
“What that means is that the person basically has to follow all the rules that the judge gives, take their medications, go to counseling, go to therapy and if after a certain period of time, in this case six months, everything has done what was asked of him, the case is dismissed,” said criminal defense attorney Joe Tamburino, who is not involved in the case.
Murdock’s case was dismissed in August 2023.
Tamburino said that under state law, Murdock’s criminal record, which includes a burglary charge, should have prevented him from owning a gun.
“We have rules and regulations, both at the state and federal level, that talk about what to do about who can have guns. Talk about the kind of sanity we need to own firearms, or the level of intoxication. It is important that we recognize these flags,” Henry said.
Minnesotans red flag law didn’t go into effect until January of this year, months after Murdock was taken to the emergency room. It gives family members, law enforcement agencies and courts the ability to prevent someone from purchasing or keeping a firearm during a time of crisis.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, you can get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.
In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates nationwide, many of which offer free support and education programs.
Reg Chapman
