Duluth’s First Homicide Victim Since 2010, Identified

Duluth Police have identified the victim of Friday’s homicide as 28 year old Joshua Eric Defoe of Duluth.  On Friday, April 27th, 2012 at 8:22AM Duluth Police were called to an apartment in the 100 block of East First Street. A renter of the apartment called and said he found a male deceased inside. Officers arrived a few minutes later and found suspicious injuries on the 28 year old deceased male, later identified as Joshua Defoe; and a suspicious death investigation began.

The Duluth Police Department arrested the renter of the apartment, Nakota Benjamin, a 37 year old male resident of Duluth. He is currently being held at the Saint Louis County Jail pending formal charges for 2nd Degree Murder. Also, the Duluth Police Department arrested Wesley Jones, a 47 year old male, resident of Duluth. He is currently being held at the Saint Louis County Jail pending formal charges for Aid and Abet 2nd Degree Murder. Joshua Defoe and two suspects in custody were known to each other.

The Saint Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and ruled the death as a homicide. The cause of death was due to injuries sustained from a knife wound on the Defoe’s neck.  This is the first homicide in Duluth since 2010.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 911. NO further information is available at this time. The investigation is on-going.

Information via: Duluth Police Department Press Release