ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (WCCO) — Alexandria Police have linked the burglary of an animal hospital in late February to a couple involved in a murder-suicide.
According to Chief Richard Wyffels, evidence suggests 24-year-old Devin Blowers and 29-year-old Katie Christopherson were responsible for the theft of veterinary medications from the Douglas County Animal Hospital on the morning of Feb. 25.
Blowers and Christopherson, both from Fargo, were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in rural Douglas County later that day.
The suspects were initially approached by Douglas County Deputy Dustin Alexander just before 9:30 a.m., after a report of a suspicious vehicle at a residence in Hudson Township.
One of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot Alexander in the chest, which was protected by a bullet-proof vest. He returned fire, hitting one of the suspects before they fled in their vehicle, which soon become stuck in snow.
The suspects then fled into the woods while continuing to fire at Alexander. Four hours later, with the help of inferred imaging, they were found dead in deep snow. Police believe Blowers shot Christopherson before killing himself.
Authorities say the stolen medications were found at the scene. Alexander was treated and released from an area hospital.
