McGREGOR - The Aitkin County shooting deaths of two men and a woman early Saturday morning around a campfire in Shamrock Township, about nine miles north of McGregor, appear to be a double murder-suicide, said Aitkin County Sheriff Scott Turner.
The names of those found dead are Jaime M. Gage, 32, Minneapolis; Mark W. Root, 51, McGregor; and John M. Brightman, 55, McGregor.
Turner said Gage was shot twice in the back, Root was shot twice in the back and once in the chest and Brightman had a single shot to the head.
Turner said authorities believe that Brightman used a .357-caliber revolver to shoot Gage and Root and then he turned the gun on himself. Turner said witnesses indicated that Brightman and Root had an argument Friday night and it may have been over Gage.
Deputies responded about 1:40 a.m. at Root's residence after receiving a call from a neighbor who reported two people had been shot. Upon arrival, deputies found three victims near a campfire outside of the residence.
Turner said there was a male witness at the campfire who witnessed the shooting of Gage and Root. This witness, who was a friend, then went to a neighbor's house to ask the neighbor to call 911. Turner said the name of the witness is not being released at this time.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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