A 44-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy were fatally shot inside a home near the 9300 block of Ryan Place in Lexington, Minnesota, early Wednesday morning, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. A male suspect was apprehended shortly after by a police K-9 unit that tracked him through the surrounding area. Authorities said the incident does not appear to be random and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Law enforcement and emergency personnel were called to the scene at approximately 12:50 a.m. on March 18, 2026. When they arrived, they found the woman dead inside the home, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. A young juvenile male was discovered gravely injured and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The shooting took place at a home near the intersection of Ryan Place and Woodland Road in Lexington, a small community located about 20 miles northeast of Minneapolis, according to CBS Minnesota. The suspect, an adult male, was located hiding in the area after a K-9 search and was taken into custody. He was then transported to a hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
While the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office had not officially released the identities of the victims or the suspect as of March 18, a family member came forward to identify them. Missy Bolling, who described herself as the deceased woman’s first cousin, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the victims were Jennifer Marsaw, 44, and her 5-year-old son Marzai Dawson. Bolling said Marsaw’s husband is suspected in the killings.
Bolling also told the newspaper that the relationship between Marsaw and her husband had been physically abusive recently. She said she had been in regular contact with Marsaw but that communication stopped about two months before the killings. According to Bolling, an older son of Jennifer Marsaw informed her about the deaths, and other children witnessed the suspect leaving the house.
However, neighbors on Ryan Place offered a slightly different account to KSTP-TV 5 Eyewitness News, telling the station that the suspect is the boyfriend of the female victim. Authorities have not publicly clarified the relationship between the suspect and the victims.
The investigation is being led jointly by the Centennial Lakes Police Department and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the exact causes and manners of death.
The response to the scene was massive.com/2026/03/lexington-home-turns-deadly-as-k-9-tracks-down-suspect-in-double-killing/”>Hoodline.
Tierney Peters, a spokesperson for the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, called the shooting heartbreaking. “It is hard to fathom, especially with a young juvenile involved,” Peters said. She told 830 WCCO Radio that the incident has been a shock to the tight-knit community of Lexington.
Meanwhile, the community has already begun rallying around the grieving family. Pastor Troy Fields of Tree of Life, described as Lexington’s only church, said the congregation is making plans to support the family with prayers, meal services, and other assistance, according to KSTP. Fields said he is in contact with the Centennial Lakes Police Department regarding how best to help.
The tragedy has shocked the community..As the investigation continues, authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office or the Centennial Lakes Police Department.
