Jerome Skluzacek Obituary, Death: Heartbreaking Carjacking Incident Claims Life of Beloved New London Man
The devastating carjacking incident that unfolded on Tuesday outside Willmar has left the community reeling in shock and grief. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim as Jerome Skluzacek, a 55-year-old man from New London.
The incident occurred during an attempted carjacking on the Highway 71/23 Bypass, situated on the southeast edge of Willmar, as reported by the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.
The chain of events that led to this tragic incident began with a domestic violence situation in Minneapolis, which escalated into a shooting. The suspect, 25-year-old Ameer Matariyeh of Minneapolis, fled the scene and allegedly shot another man, Peter Mayerchak, at a home in Lake Lillian. Matariyeh then attempted the carjacking that resulted in Jerome Skluzacek’s fatal shooting.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office has expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family and requested that the public respect their privacy during this difficult time. Imran Ali, the spokesperson for the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office and communication specialist for the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, provided further details about the situation.
Peter Mayerchak, a 25-year-old man from Lake Lillian, was shot earlier in the chain of events but is now in stable condition and expected to survive. Matariyeh was eventually apprehended by law enforcement and taken into custody around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. He is currently being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail on a pending charge of second-degree murder.
The sheriff’s office has refrained from commenting further on the incident, as Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson and several deputies were witnesses to the events that unfolded along the highway outside Willmar. In a formal statement, the office emphasized the gravity of the tragedy and urged people to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.
The sheriff’s office also commended the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene and apprehended the suspect, calling them “true heroes” for putting their own safety at risk to protect the community. The swift and courageous actions of these officers ensured that the suspect was taken into custody without further loss of life.
This incident is part of a series of violent events that spanned multiple locations, beginning with the Minneapolis
