Tenant-landlord dispute in Perham leads to shooting

PERHAM, Minn. - A dispute between a landlord and his tenant got out of hand Friday morning when one person was shot, Otter Tail County Sheriff Brian Schluetter said. Officers responded to a report about 7 a.m. of a landlord shooting a tenant after the two were arguing in the front yard of a rural house east of Perham. A female caller told police her boyfriend was shot by their landlord, Schluetter said. The landlord, Gerald Duane Skolte, 63, was arrested and is being held on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, Schluetter said. He hasn't been officially charged by county prosecutors, and his first court date will likely be next week, Schluetter said. Deputies secured the area after responding to the scene and took Skolte into custody without incident. He was booked into the Otter Tail County jail. "It was a good end to the situation because no one else got hurt," Schluetter said.
The 39-year-old man who was shot was taken to Perham Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Schluetter said investigators are still trying to determine the motive for the shooting. He declined to say what kind of gun was used or where the victim was shot. Responding to the scene were Otter Tail County sheriff's deputies, Perham police, the Minnesota State Patrol and Minnesota Department of Natural Resource officers. Tweets by @DLNewspapersPERHAM, Minn. - A dispute between a landlord and his tenant got out of hand Friday morning when one person was shot, Otter Tail County Sheriff Brian Schluetter said.Officers responded to a report about 7 a.m. of a landlord shooting a tenant after the two were arguing in the front yard of a rural house east of Perham. A female caller told police her boyfriend was shot by their landlord, Schluetter said.The landlord, Gerald Duane Skolte, 63, was arrested and is being held on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, Schluetter said. He hasn't been officially charged by county prosecutors, and his first court date will likely be next week, Schluetter said.Deputies secured the area after responding to the scene and took Skolte into custody without incident. He was booked into the Otter Tail County jail."It was a good end to the situation because no one else got hurt," Schluetter said.
The 39-year-old man who was shot was taken to Perham Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.Schluetter said investigators are still trying to determine the motive for the shooting. He declined to say what kind of gun was used or where the victim was shot.Responding to the scene were Otter Tail County sheriff's deputies, Perham police, the Minnesota State Patrol and Minnesota Department of Natural Resource officers.Tweets by @DLNewspapers