Shortly after 4:20 a.m. on the morning of November 23, 2025, the relative calm of South St. Cloud was shattered by gunfire. Law enforcement officers responded to a shooting in the 800-block of 8th Avenue South, where two victims were found injured. According to the St. Cloud Police Department, one of the victims, a 44-year-old resident of St. Cloud, had been shot twice. The second victim, a 55-year-old who attempted to intervene, was assaulted with a blunt object after the shooting. Both victims were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the dispatch call and quickly located evidence of the shooting. A handgun was recovered near the location, and a short foot-pursuit ensued as officers attempted to apprehend the suspected shooter. According to police reports, the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Austin Gerads of St. Cloud, fled briefly before being taken into custody. The swift arrest followed neighborhood canvassing, witness statements, and surveillance checks by responding units.

The shooting occurred in a residential area just south of St. Cloud State University, where homes, small apartment buildings, and commercial properties intermingle. At that hour of the morning, few residents were out on the street, but those who were awakened witnessed the flashing lights of patrol cars, the sound of sirens, and the cordoning off of the crime scene. The block was blocked to traffic and pedestrian access as investigators set up tape, forensic teams worked the ground, and officers interviewed witnesses.

Once secured, the crime scene was processed by a team that included officers from the St. Cloud Police Department, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Investigators photographed shell casings, collected ballistic evidence, secured the handgun, and examined the area for any additional weapons or casings. The interior and exterior of the building where the shooting took place were swept for trace evidence, and detectives spoke to neighbors who reported hearing loud voices and footsteps in the moments preceding the gunfire.

At a mid-morning press briefing, Police Chief Jonathan Romanow announced the official arrest of Gerads and confirmed that neither victim’s injuries were considered life-threatening. Chief Romanow said, “We can confirm a suspect is in custody, and we recovered what we believe to be the weapon used in this shooting. At this time we do not believe this to be an active threat to the community.” The chief emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are still establishing motive, timeline and full sequence of events.

Witness accounts describe seeing the victim who was shot stepping out of a residence when an argument broke out. The second victim, who attempted to intervene, was said to have been struck with an object after trying to aid the first victim. Residences in the immediate area reported hearing screaming, then gunshots, and then someone running. One neighbor described stepping outside in her slippers and seeing a man bolting across the pavement, followed by uniformed officers shouting orders and giving chase.

As the investigation progressed over the day, forensic ballistic experts confirmed that the recovered handgun had been used in the shooting. Ballistic markings matched the casings found at the scene, and the weapon was entered into evidence. Investigators also indicated they were reviewing digital evidence, including surveillance footage from nearby cameras, as well as phone records of the suspect and any potential associates. At this stage, however, police said they had no indication of any additional subjects involved, but added that nothing had been ruled out.

Legal charges filed against Gerads include two counts of first-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of felony possession of a handgun without a permit. In Minnesota, first-degree assault with a dangerous weapon is a serious charge that carries substantial prison time if convicted. Gerads was booked into the Stearns County Jail and held without bail pending a preliminary hearing.

Community leaders responded swiftly. Mayor Dave Kleis addressed residents in the afternoon, urging calm and cooperation. “We recognize the shock this generates,” Mayor Kleis said. “This is not typical of our city, and we ask everyone to please aid law enforcement by providing any information you may have. Your eyes and ears matter.” The mayor also announced that additional officers would patrol the area for the next several nights to reassure residents and deter further incidents.

Nearby St. Cloud State University released a statement acknowledging the incident and reaffirming its commitment to campus safety. The university urged students and staff to use its 24-hour escort service, to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity immediately. While the incident did not occur on campus property, the proximity to the university heightened concerns among students and faculty alike.

The shooting has prompted renewed discussion in the St. Cloud community about gun access, street-level violence and neighborhood tensions. Previous years had seen a decline in violent incidents in the area, but residents say this early-morning event has shaken a sense of security. Local neighborhood associations announced an emergency meeting for the following week to discuss how to strengthen lighting, surveillance and resident communication in the 8th Avenue South corridor.

Forensic investigators also searched for the motive behind the shooting. Investigators noted that the suspect and one of the victims are known to each other and that a dispute may have preceded the violence, but police have not confirmed whether the confrontation was pre-meditated or spontaneous. Detectives are reviewing the suspect’s background—prior criminal history, firearms possession record, and any prior conflicts or associations. They are also gathering witness statements, examining social media content, and reviewing nearby camera footage for context. Chief Romanow stated that the investigation is being handled with the utmost seriousness and that additional charges could be filed as more evidence emerges.

As officers completed their on-scene work and released cordons later in the day, the neighborhood began to settle into its post-incident routine. Some residents ventured outside, discussing in hushed tones what they had heard. Others remained indoors, glancing at their windows and watching patrol cars stationed at the end of blocks. Local businesses open later performed extra lock checks and installed motion-activated lights following the incident.

The police department also established a hotline for anyone with information or video relevant to the shooting to contact detectives. They asked specifically for footage from 8th Avenue South and the adjoining alleyways between 800 and 900 blocks, captured between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday morning. Investigators noted that in cases such as this, video evidence from doorbell cameras, phones and private surveillance systems often makes the difference between a clear timeline and a truncated one.

In the coming days, prosecutors will determine whether to file charges under Minnesota’s “felon in possession” statutes if the suspect lacked the required permit, and they will review whether any firearm enhancements will apply. Meanwhile, the suspect’s public defender has requested that all evidence be sealed pending review and has asked for a court date in the next week to set bail arguments.

This incident has once again illuminated how early-morning confrontations can escalate to gunfire in minutes. It underscores the importance of swift response by law enforcement, the role of forensic investigation, and the community’s role in assisting detection and prevention. It also raises questions about how cities like St. Cloud, which enjoy relatively low violent crime compared to national averages, handle sudden bursts of gun violence and what measures can be taken to restore neighborhood confidence.

As St. Cloud moves forward, investigators will continue to work through the layers of evidence, speak to all parties involved, and consider whether the incident was isolated or part of a deeper pattern of violence. In the meantime, the suspect remains in custody, the victims are hospitalized and expected to recover, and the community remains on alert.

Residents of the vicinity are advised to be vigilant—report any unusual noise, movement or gatherings to police—and to use existing safety resources offered by the city. Local authorities say they will provide updates as soon as more information is available and ask for patience as the investigative process progresses.

This shooting will be remembered by the neighborhood for the suddenness of its arrival—an ordinary morning transformed by a violent act. The response has been swift, professional, and thorough. But for residents who opened their curtains that Sunday and saw flashing lights