Duluth homicide victim was UMD student, son of St. Paul officer

The 22-year-old man who was fatally shot this week in Duluth was a college student from Centerville, authorities said Wednesday.

William Andrew Grahek, a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, was shot at a residence in the 500 block of E. 11th Street on Tuesday afternoon.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died, according to Duluth police.

Grahek graduated from Centennial High School.

He was a junior enrolled in both UMD's Swenson College of Science and Engineering and its College of Liberal Arts, according to the Associated Press.

The UMD rugby team, the Fighting Penguins, posted a statement on Facebook about their teammate.

"Will played fly-half for UMD after transferring from the College of St. Scholastica, where he was a rugby player and resident adviser," according to the Facebook post.

Grahek also served as a specialist with the 312th Army Reserve Engineer Company, located on Park Point in Duluth.

He was the son of St. Paul police Sgt. Jon Grahek, according to a statement from St. Paul police.

"The Graheks do not wish to make a public statement other than to say that they loved William very much and to thank everyone who has reached out to them with comforting words and support," according to the statement from St. Paul police.

UMD Vice Chancellor for Student Life Lisa Erwin said in a statement that the campus community is mourning for Grahek and extends condolences to his family and friends.

A "person of interest" was detained Tuesday night, but on Wednesday police said they have no one in custody.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation.

The shooting was the sixth in Duluth in four weeks, and the first to result in a death.

Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647