Minneapolis man held in stabbing death in Northeast

Last update: November 15, 2009 - 9:27 PM

A Minneapolis man has been arrested in the Saturday stabbing death of Brandon Keeler.

Minneapolis police released few details about the case Sunday, but jail records show that a 31-year-old man who lived about a mile from Keeler in northeast Minneapolis was booked into the county jail about 6 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of murder.

Keeler, 31, was found dead about 5 a.m. that morning in his apartment building in the 1000 block of Lowry Avenue NE. Police have not identified him, or said how he died.

Friends identified Keeler, and described him as a kind animal-lover.

"He was the kind of guy that if he had the means to help you, he would," said Carl Bartel, a longtime friend. "And if he needed help, he wouldn't ask for it."

Friends said nothing appeared unusual recently.

"He was always very happy," said friend Jason Clifford. "I don't know who would dislike him."

On his MySpace page, Keeler listed his interests as his cats, plants and the outdoors. He listed his father as his hero, and Cottage Grove as his hometown.

"He's a good guy," Bartel said. "What happened to him is a travesty."

CHAO XIONG