Man charged with killing fellow resident at Minneapolis mental health facility
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Quick Read
A man is facing murder and assault charges after allegedly attacking fellow residents and staff members at a residential mental health facility in Minneapolis early Monday, killing one person and injuring four others.
Derek Faulkner, 31, made an initial appearance in Hennepin County Court on Wednesday. He remained in the Hennepin County Jail on Thursday.
The person who died was identified as 23-year-old Bryce Hayes. Attorneys for Hayes’ parents are raising questions about why Faulkner — who had recently been charged with attempted murder in Sherburne County and assault in Anoka County — was admitted to the Minneapolis facility.
According to the Hennepin County criminal complaint and information from Minneapolis police:
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Just after 6:30 a.m. Monday, there were multiple 911 calls from the facility on Clifton Avenue reporting that a person named “Derek” — later identified as Faulkner — was attacking people and “making threats to kill everyone.”
Officers located Faulkner, who allegedly said: “I think I killed someone.” They also found five victims, including a man in a second-floor room — later identified as Hayes — with serious injuries. Hayes had lacerations and “internal injuries presumed to be from fire extinguisher chemicals.” He died at a hospital early Tuesday.
The four other victims reported being assaulted with a fork, a fireplace log and a lamp post. Some of them reported being attacked while they were sleeping.
At the time of the alleged attack in Minneapolis, Faulkner was out on bond after being charged with attempted murder for a shooting in Sherburne County in August that left a person with shrapnel wounds.
Days after that shooting, he also allegedly assaulted staff members at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and was charged with assault in Anoka County.
He’s due back in court on the Hennepin County charges in November.
Hayes’ parents have retained legal counsel. In a statement, Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys said Hayes was on the autism spectrum and was “known for his politeness and quiet nature.”
The attorneys identified the facility where the attack took place as the Nancy Page Crisis Response and Intensive Residential Treatment Services Residence, operated by the nonprofit People Incorporated. They said Hayes was admitted to the facility due to depression and anxiety.
“Bryce’s family is devastated that his life ended in such a horrific and unnecessary way, just days before he was to be released to live independently. Bryce was very close with his family and loved by anyone who met him,” attorney L. Chris Stewart said in a statement. “Our firm is conducting a thorough investigation to determine exactly what happened, and what could and should have been done to prevent this tragedy.”
Stewart said the family wants to know “why someone with such a recent history of extreme violence was even admitted into this facility with vulnerable residents,” and what facility staff did to respond to the attack as it happened.
People Incorporated issued a statement saying that it can’t comment on what happened due to the active investigation. The nonprofit said it’s “cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
