ST. ANTHONY, MN – A man is facing murder and attempted murder charges after authorities say he fatally stabbed his neighbor and seriously wounded the neighbor’s teenage son early Saturday morning at an apartment complex in St. Anthony.

Police responded around 5 a.m. to reports of a stabbing at the Equinox Apartments on Silver Lane Road. Officers arrived to find a 44-year-old man and a teenage boy in the hallway, both with multiple stab wounds. The adult victim died at the scene, while the teen was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis in critical condition, suffering from life-threatening injuries to his chest, neck, and head.

Investigators quickly identified Jonathon Michael Kaupa, 31, as the prime suspect in the deadly attack. Kaupa, who lived across the hall from the victims, allegedly fled the building immediately after the incident. According to police, witnesses initially believed the attacker was still in his apartment, but evidence later revealed Kaupa had exited the building by climbing down from his balcony using a rope.

As police processed the scene, a rideshare driver unexpectedly approached officers and recounted a suspicious encounter with a man matching Kaupa’s description. She said she picked him up near the apartment complex, noting he was lying in the snow without proper clothing for the bitter cold. The driver told police that Kaupa spoke about being in a fight and offered a bizarre apology for the condition of his cellphone, saying it was smeared with “fish guts.”

Alarmed by the incident, the driver circled back to the scene to alert law enforcement about her passenger. Using information from the driver and further investigation, authorities circulated an alert to agencies across the region.

Law enforcement tracked Kaupa north out of the metro area, eventually locating him in the Duluth area. When officers attempted a traffic stop, Kaupa was allegedly driving his parents’ Mercedes and tried to escape on foot, but he was apprehended after a short pursuit.

Further details emerged from witness interviews and a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County. The teenage survivor, who is the son of the man killed, identified Kaupa to detectives as the attacker. The teenager’s sister told investigators that she and her younger brother woke to the sound of a power tool in the hallway and alerted their father. Both men went to investigate, and moments later, the teenager returned to the apartment covered in blood and called 911.

Investigators have learned that the man who was killed was a building maintenance worker. Kaupa’s father reportedly told authorities that his son struggles with mental health issues and had recently expressed concerns that the maintenance worker had entered his apartment, although it remains unclear whether that was accurate.

Kaupa appeared in court Monday on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. He is being held at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing as officials continue to search for a motive and gather further evidence. No further details about the victims have been released by police at this time.