A beloved neighborhood figure and store clerk in Minnesota tragically lost his life on Friday when a disturbed customer attacked him with a golf club, according to local law enforcement. Taylor Justin Schulz, 44, is accused of the brutal assault that took place at Oak Grove Grocery, a small community store located near downtown Minneapolis.
Schulz reportedly entered the store around 1 p.m., bringing several items to the counter before launching the unprovoked attack. The victim, 66-year-old Robert Skafte, was impaled through the torso with the golf club. Schulz then fled the scene, leaving Skafte severely injured.
Tony Gutoski, a neighbor who entered the store shortly after the incident, found Skafte conscious and responsive despite his critical condition. Gutoski reported that Skafte was able to communicate, recounting that a man who had been acting erratically earlier had returned and attacked him. Skafte was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately, he did not survive his injuries.
Following the attack, Schulz was located in an apartment across the street where he had barricaded himself. After a tense six-hour standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team, a drone unit, and a bomb squad, Schulz was apprehended and taken into custody. He is currently being held in Hennepin County Jail on probable cause murder charges.
The motive behind the horrifying attack remains unclear. However, Gutoski suggested that Schulz, who had reportedly called 911 before the attack demanding to speak with the FBI, was mentally unstable. Gutoski expressed his shock and grief over the incident, describing Skafte as a kind individual who had never harmed anyone and was a staple in the community.
Skafte, known for his passion for dance, was a well-respected figure in the local theater community. Following his untimely death, a memorial adorned with candles, flowers, and photographs was erected outside the grocery store in his honor.