MN Man Already Facing Attempted Murder Charge Now Accused Of Killing At Mental Health Facility

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN — A 31-year-old Minneapolis man who was already facing an attempted murder charge is now charged with murder after authorities say he attacked five people at a residential mental health facility in Minneapolis early Monday, killing one of them.

Derek Duane Faulkner is charged with one count of second-degree intentional murder and four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.

Subscribe

Faulkner has a pending attempted murder case in Sherburne County, along with a civil commitment case there, the complaint says. He also faces pending fourth-degree assault charges in Anoka County.

Officers responded to multiple 911 calls from the facility at about 6:36 a.m. Monday, according to the complaint. A staff member told dispatchers that a man identified as Faulkner had attacked three people, was actively attacking another person with a fork and was "making threats to kill everyone."

Officers quickly found and arrested Faulkner, according to the charges. He had blood on his right hand and powdery stains on his clothes that were later determined to have come from a fire extinguisher. While he was being handcuffed, Faulkner told officers, "I think I killed someone," the complaint says.

On the second floor, officers found a man inside his room covered in white powder, with significant cuts and blunt force injuries to his face, according to the complaint. What appeared to be blood was spattered throughout the room.

The man was taken to HCMC, where medical staff noted internal injuries believed to have been caused by fire extinguisher chemicals, the charges say. He died at about 12:58 a.m. Tuesday. He has not been publicly identified.

Investigators identified four other victims, according to the complaint.

A staff member told investigators that another man ran downstairs around 6 a.m. with a bloody face, saying someone had attacked him in his sleep. That man needed stitches for a cut on his forehead. Investigators were unable to interview him because of his condition, the complaint says.

When the staff member went to get towels for the injured man, Faulkner came up from behind, put the staff member in a chokehold and began stabbing his arm with a fork, according to the charges. The staff member escaped and locked himself in an office. He then saw Faulkner grab a log from a fireplace and head upstairs.

Another man told investigators he woke up to Faulkner entering his room, hitting him with a firewood log and saying he was going to kill people. A woman told investigators Faulkner came into her room and hit her in the head with a "lamp post," the complaint says.

Hennepin County District Judge Christian Sande set Faulkner's bail at $1 million. He was in custody as of Tuesday, according to the complaint.

Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison in Minnesota. Each count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon carries a maximum of seven years.