Suspect Arrested After Early-Morning Shooting
Early-Morning Shooting
Shortly after “4:20 a.m. on November 23, 2025,” gunfire broke the quiet of
South St. Cloud in the “800-block of 8th Avenue South.” Police found two victims:
a 44-year-old shot twice and a 55-year-old assaulted with a blunt object after
trying to intervene. Both suffered “non-life-threatening injuries.”
Rapid Arrest
Officers arrived within minutes, recovered a handgun, and pursued a suspect on foot.
Police credited “rapid response, witness accounts, and nearby surveillance”
for the arrest of 31-year-old Austin Gerads,
adding there was “no ongoing threat to the public.”
Investigation
The incident occurred near St. Cloud State University.
Residents reported hearing arguments and gunshots.
Ballistic testing confirmed the handgun was used,
and investigators reviewed “camera footage and phone records.”
Charges and Community Response
Gerads faces two counts of “first-degree assault with a dangerous weapon”
and felony handgun possession. Leaders urged calm,
increased patrols, and renewed safety discussions.
