BCA: Fatal southwestern Minnesota shooting was murder-suicide

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said it was alerted shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday by a caller about a medical emergency at the residence.

January 6, 2024 at 9:11PM

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Saturday that the fatal shooting of two people in southwestern Minnesota's Lincoln County was a murder-suicide.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a medical emergency on Thursday afternoon at a residence in Lake Benton. Emergency responders found a woman's body with multiple gunshot wounds, and a man fatally wounded; he later died at a hospital.

The BCA identified the man as Irwin Edward Goertz, age 80. The agency said his death was a suicide. The woman was identified as Sandra Wilson Goertz, 81. Her death was ruled a homicide. The two were married.

In a statement Saturday, Lincoln County Sheriff Bob Bushman described Lake Benton as a "rural, tight-knit community" were most residents know each other. "When a tragedy like this occurs, it's like everyone has lost a family member," he said.

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Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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