On or about February 25, 2026, Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a suicidal individual at a residence in Milaca, Minnesota, Mille Lacs County. Dispatch advised that the reporting party’s son had stated he was going to shoot himself and fired an AR-15 style rifle multiple times inside the house. Dispatch further advised that the reporting party stated that his son was now sitting with him in the driveway outside the residence, without the firearm. Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with the reporting party, J. R. P., who stated that his son, JAKE RAYMOND PAULSON [DOB REDACTED], the Defendant herein, had been outside with him, but walked back toward the house just before the deputies arrived.
Two deputies proceeded to the rear of the house. Upon doing so, they observed PAULSON lying in the snow near the back door, without any weapons. The deputies safely handcuffed PAULSON and secured him in the rear of a patrol vehicle. Once PAULSON was secured, J. R. P. Allowed deputies to enter the residence and observe the scene. Inside the house, deputies smelled a strong odor of burnt gunpowder, indicating recent discharge of a firearm. Deputies observed holes in the living room and bedroom walls, consistent with bullet holes, and small pieces of drywall strewn about the floor.
The deputies observed apparent bullet holes in a bedroom television, one of which appeared to show that a bullet had exited the back of the television, punched through the bedroom wall, and lodged inside another interior wall. A hole in a west-facing window appeared to show that at least one round had exited the house. J. R. P. Stated that the holes were caused by PAULSON firing the rifle. In the bedroom, the deputies observed a black 5.56 cal. Colt AR-15 rifle on the floor, which J. R. P. Said was the weapon PAULSON had been firing.
Numerous spent shell casings were strewn about the floor. A deputy retrieved the rifle, cleared it, and observed that its magazine was now empty. The deputies collected and photographed the evidence. In total, the deputies collected 12 spent shell casings and counted at least 20 apparent bullet holes inside the house. J. R. P. Provided a recorded statement, explaining that PAULSON had been experiencing mental health problems and was drinking before the incident. J. R. P. Stated that PAULSON was suicidal and had expressed an intention to kill himself.
J. R. P. Stated that, before firing the rifle, PAULSON had been upset about not having a car and had been yelling and throwing things inside the house. He said that PAULSON had punched a wall and broken several lightbulbs on the dining room chandelier. Following this, J. R. P. Stated, PAULSON went into the bedroom and began firing the rifle. PAULSON initially declined to provide a statement to the deputies. However, when one of the deputies later opened the door of the squad vehicle to check on PAULSON, PAULSON stated that he worked for the C. I. A. And needed to get to Baltimore to help the government agency.
