A quiet afternoon in Fosston, Minn. turned into a fatal shooting inside an apartment complex on Mark Avenue. TeeJay Alvarez, 31, was shot inside one of the units after a disturbance call came in from the building. What began as a 911 response quickly escalated into a life-or-death situation.
Officers were called to the 300 block of Mark Avenue around 3:20 p.m. on Monday. The report suggested a disturbance that may have involved a firearm. When police arrived, they confirmed that a man had been shot inside an apartment.
Alvarez was already moved out of the building by a private individual before officers fully secured the scene. He was rushed to Essentia Health-Fosston Hospital in critical condition. His injuries were severe and required advanced care.
Due to the seriousness of the gunshot wound, he was later airlifted to Essentia Health in Fargo. Medical teams worked to stabilize him, but his condition continued to decline.
Despite all efforts, Alvarez died Tuesday morning. The Cass County Coroner’s Office confirmed his identity and cause of death as a gunshot wound.
Back at the apartment complex, investigators focused on securing the scene. During that process, they located Cory Burnette Jr., 22, inside the unit tied to the shooting.
Burnette was taken into custody without any reported resistance. Authorities later confirmed he was being held on probable cause for second-degree assault and discharge of a firearm, with formal charges still under review.
The Fosston Police Department is leading the case with support from multiple agencies, including county and state-level law enforcement teams. Investigators are still working to understand what led up to the shooting, and witness statements and evidence remain under review.
The incident has left parts of the Fosston community shaken, as friends and family mourn the loss of a young man whose life ended suddenly in a place meant to be safe.
