A Duluth man pointed a shotgun at a group of movers and threatened to shoot them as they tried to clear out a storage unit he was living in illegally, according to charges.
Kurt Edward Hutchinson, 59, faces charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence. The charges were filed Friday, July 17, in Saint Louis County District Court.
According to the complaint, Duluth police responded at 9:38 a.m. on July 15 to a report of a man with a gun in an alley in Duluth. The reporting party told officers that a man was threatening people with a shotgun and had pointed it at a group of four people. Officers later identified the man as Hutchinson.
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Several people had been hired to clean out a storage unit that Hutchinson was renting as an apartment, even though it was not a legal residence. One of the movers, the victim, told police he knocked on the door and entered the unit, where he saw Hutchinson go to the back and say, “I have a right to defend my property.” the victim said Hutchinson pulled out a soft black gun case, unzipped it and removed what appeared to be a long gun.
Hutchinson then pointed the gun at the group and said, “I’m going to get you guys if you don’t leave the property.” the victim ran into the alley with the others, telling police he was “scared as hell” and believed he was going to die.
Another mover, the victim, said he saw Hutchinson grab a black rifle case and begin opening it, prompting him to flee the unit and hide behind a vehicle. A third mover, the victim, said they had arranged to meet Hutchinson at 8:00 a.m. but had to use a key to enter when he did not answer.
The victim also heard Hutchinson say he had the right to defend his property and saw him grab a long black case, believing it might contain a weapon. The victim told police he feared Hutchinson might shoot them if they did not leave.
A woman who identified herself as Hutchinson’s girlfriend told officers they had been living in the makeshift apartment for several years. She said the city of Duluth became aware of the illegal living situation and issued an eviction notice around July 12, giving them until July 20 to move out. On July 14, a family member of the landlord arrived with a moving truck and asked them to pack up.
The next morning, movers and the landlord’s family member returned, knocked on the door and announced themselves. The woman said Hutchinson yelled at them to leave and was not ready to pack his belongings.
The landlord’s family member told police she met with Hutchinson on July 14 to rent a U-Haul and storage unit, and they spent the day loading items. She said that on July 15, when they returned to finish moving, Hutchinson pulled out a box and said, “I’ll shoot you guys” and “I have a right to defend myself.” She ran from the doorway, telling police she was terrified.
Police learned that the Duluth Fire Department Life Safety Division had sent a letter on July 10 ordering the storage unit vacated immediately, with a reinspection scheduled for July 20. Hutchinson refused to exit the apartment for several hours, prompting SWAT and crisis negotiators to respond. He eventually exited peacefully.
Officers obtained a search warrant and found an AK-47 rifle, a 30-30 rifle, two shotguns and a black powder rifle inside the unit. The AK-47 was in a black plastic gun case, and the other guns were in soft cases inside a school locker.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Saint Louis County is Minnesota’s largest county by area, stretching from Duluth to the Canadian border. The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the Sixth Judicial District; cases are heard at the Saint Louis County Courthouse in Duluth and the Virginia courthouse for cases north of the iron range.
