On January 3, 2026, Hopkins Police officers were dispatched to an apartment located on the 1300 block of Cambridge Street in Hopkins, Hennepin County, Minnesota, following a 911 call from KRYSTOFER PATRICK BROOKS, DEFENDANT herein, reporting that he shot his girlfriend, Victim herein, in the head while clearing his firearm. Defendant and Victim had been in a romantic relationship for two years and lived together for the past year at the Hopkins apartment. Officers responded, entered the apartment, and saw Defendant sitting at the kitchen table with blood on his hands crying.
Officers detained Defendant while other officers rushed to provide medical aid to Victim. Victim was located lying partially in her bed with a gunshot wound to her eye. A significant amount of bleeding was coming from her head. Officers pulled Victim from the bed and attempted life-saving measures with the assistance of emergency personnel who arrived. Despite their efforts, Victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. On a desk chair immediately adjacent to the bed, officers located a black 9mm semi-automatic firearm with the hammer in a cocked position.
The firearm had a loaded magazine inside of it as well as a round in the chamber. On scene, Defendant was advised of his rights pursuant to Miranda and told an officer that he was looking at his firearm while in his bedroom. He stated that Victim was on the bed and he was standing near the desk a few feet away. Defendant reported that he pulled the slide back on the firearm and didn’t see any ammunition “pop out.” He stated that he put the magazine back in the firearm and thought it was empty, but that the room was dark.
He stated that as he was standing next to his desk, he pointed the gun at the window. He said he pulled the trigger lightly while it was pointed at the window and didn’t hear a click and the firearm didn’t fire a bullet. Defendant said he then pointed the gun across the room in the general direction of where Victim was on the bed. Defendant recounted that Victim sat up in bed right before he pulled the trigger a second time. With the second trigger pull, a bullet fired and struck Victim in the eye.
Defendant said he didn’t try to save Victim after she was shot because of where she was hit, he knew she was dead. He said that there should be eight rounds left in the gun including one in the chamber. Defendant was transported to the police station and made several spontaneous statements during transport and booking including: - “I have an idea what’s going to happen after this too because of all the stuff I looked into, what ends up happening, basic processing just to make sure.” - Defendant asked if it was common for someone to feel empty after an incident like this and not have any emotion. - Defendant asked if he could get a private room at the jail and if the beds are of quality. - He also asked several questions about how squad cars work. - Defendant asked repeatedly to speak with investigators about what happened.
