Machete-wielding teen robs man at Duluth veteran's memorial on Memorial Day
Northland Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.
A machete-wielding teen threatened and robbed a man at a Duluth veteran's memorial the afternoon of Memorial Day.
Duluth police say it happened around 4:03 p.m. at the Northland Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, located along the Lake Superior shore just north of Canal Park.
The victim said a man with a machete approached him, threatened him, then took his backpack. But the victim managed to take photos, which he shared with police.
Officers located the suspect, an 18-year-old, riding a bike in downtown Duluth. The suspect then ditched the bicycle and fled on foot, entering a wooded area near Duluth Bethel, about a mile south of where the robbery occurred. The suspect then ended up on a rocky outcropping.
Officers "were able to engage the suspect in conversation," police said, and after a while the man agreed to come down, using a ladder brought by the fire department.
Police arrested the suspect, who is now being held in St. Louis County Jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery. Officers were able to recover the victim's backpack and return it to him.
Note: The details provided in this story are based on the police’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
