Fifteen year old confirmed arrested for murder St Cloud

St Cloud police confirm a 15 year old has been arrested in the murder of Craig Hortman.

This is the initial release:

Date:  01/18/2023
Nature of Incident:  Homicide
Case #:  23002407
Incident Date:  01/17/2023
Incident Time:  11:51 p.m.
Location:  300 Block 14th Avenue SE

On 1/17/23 at approximately 11:51 p.m. officers were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment building in the 300
Block of 14th Avenue S.E. Upon arrival officers located an adult male inside an apartment that had been shot. Officers and Paramedics provided life-saving measures however the victim died at the scene. Based on the
investigation, it is believed the suspects fled the area immediately after the shooting.

The BCA Crime Scene Team responded and assisted with processing the scene of the shooting. The body of the deceased male will be transported to the Midwest Medical Examiners’ Office for an autopsy. At this time no arrests
have been made and the investigation is ongoing. This does not appear to be a random incident.

St. Cloud police released information on the 18 January 2023 incident:

On 1/18/23 at approximately 8:45 a.m. officers were dispatched to area of the 800 block of 34th Ave N in reference to a complaint of gunshots heard in the area. Based on a callers’ observation a suspect was seen entering a residence in the vicinity of the gunshots.
Officers located shell casings in the area; no apparent victims were located or injured as a result of the incident.

A 15-year-old juvenile suspect from Saint Cloud was taken into custody at the residence and transported to the Stearns County Jail and is being held on a felony charge of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, possession of a firearm
(under 18), and prohibited possession of a firearm due to prior felony qualifying convictions.

Anyone with information regarding the above incident is urged to contact the St. Cloud Police Department
at 320-251-1200, or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-255-1301, or at www. tricountycrimestoppers.org

St. Cloud police 26 January 2023:

The victim of the homicide has been identified as 53-year-old Craig Lamar Hortman of St. Cloud. This case is active
and investigators continue to examine the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the homicide.

St. Cloud police 9 February 2023:

Through investigation, the St. Cloud Police Department has identified a 15-year-old male, from St. Cloud, as the suspect in this homicide. The juvenile was arrested on 1/18/2023 on an unrelated case and has been in custody since his arrest. At that time, he was taken into custody and held for reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of
a firearm (under 18), and prohibited possession of a firearm due to prior felony qualifying convictions.
As a result of the homicide investigation, he is now being held on charges related to 2nd Degree Murder.

Back in December 2022, Hortman was arrested:

Date: 12/31/22
Nature of Incident: Fentanyl, Gun, and Obstructing Arrest
Case #. 22054270
Incident Date: Incident Time- 844 a.m.
Location: 300 Black 14m Avenue Southeast, St. Cloud

On 12/30/22 at 8:44 a.m. officers were sent to a gun complaint in the 300 Block of 14th Avenue Southeast.
Initial reports were that a male was outside in that area pointing a handgun at an occupied moving vehicle.
Upon arrival officers located the suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Craig Lamar Hortman from St. Cloud, walking in the area. The caller confirmed with dispatch that the Hortman was the suspect and that the gun was in his jacket. Hortman refused to listen to officer’s commands and tried to walk away after being told he was under arrest, at times placing his hands back towards his jacket pockets. Ultimately officers were able to take Hortman into custody without further incident.

During the arrest officers found Hortman to be in possession of a 9mm handgun (in jacket pocket) and 200
“Perc 30” (Fentanyl) pills.  Officers confirmed that Hortman does not have a “Permit to Carry” a handgun.

Hortman was transported to the Benton County Jail to be held for court on charges related to the possession
of a controlled substance (Fentanyl), the possession of a handgun, and the obstruction during the arrest. Officers were not able to locate the original vehicle/persons that Hortman was reportedly pointing the gun towards.
The vehicle was described as a gray SUV.

Officers still need to identify and speak to the occupants of that vehicle for additional potential charges.

Anyone with information regarding the above incident, or the identity of the gray SUV vehicle/occupants, is
urged to contact the St. Cloud Police Department at 320-251-1200.

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