Town of Brewster Shaken By Woman's Murder

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- In a town of 473 people, no one is a stranger in Brewster. That is why so many are taking the shooting death of 40-year-old Jan Kruse personally.

"The other night when this happened it really scared the heck out of me," resident Charles Marquardt said.

Police were called to a house in the 600 block of 2nd Avenue in Brewster early Wednesday morning. Kruse was dead when they arrived. Two others inside, her husband and daughter, were not hurt.

"OK, we're a small town. Nothing like that happens in a small town. It happens, you panic," Marquardt said.

People who live here were told not to panic. Police say the public is not in danger. It is hard to swallow for some folks, especially for Marquardt, who lives one house away from where Kruse's body was found.

"There's a lot of old folks in town, and something like this happens, you know, there [is not] a way for old people to defend themselves, and it's just really scary," he said.

Police have made no arrest and are saying very little about their investigation. Town folks say they want to know who would shatter their sense of safety by violently taking one of their own

"It's unbelievable that something could happen to someone like that that's so friendly," Marquardt said.

Resident Jack Strouth was also shocked that Kruse was targeted.

"I've never heard anybody say anything bad about them," Strouth said. "But I guess nice people get killed, too, I guess. It's not right, but it happens."

Although police say the public should not be concerned, they are asking people to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.