Rockdale police arrest Minn. murder suspect

ROCKDALE – A suspect in a Minnesota murder was arrested Saturday by Rockdale police.

Chief Robert Dykstra said Rockdale officer Carl Aulet was notified about 2:30 p.m. that Reginald A. Burnett Jr., 19, was being sought by Winona, Minnesota, police and may have been staying with relatives in the area.

“I am familiar with the Burnett residence, so officer Aulet, Will County sheriff’s deputies Robert Schwarz, Joshua Reid and myself went to the house in the 1000 block of Belleview Avenue to speak with anyone there,” Dykstra said.

Dykstra said police saw a Buick Skylark registered to Burnett parked in front of the house.

“Burnett’s father did not allow us to search the residence, but his son did come out and was taken into custody,” Dykstra said.

Burnett, a resident of Altoona, Wisconsin, was booked into the Will County Jail and is scheduled to be extradited to Minnesota. According to police reports, he is charged with second-degree murder for aiding and abetting a slaying, aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.

On Oct. 18, Adam T. Fort, 31, was shot and killed in his Winona apartment by two intruders who came in demanding drugs and money, according to police reports. Police said Lonnie L. Hudson, 23, was identified by witnesses as the man who shot Fort and Burnett was the other intruder.

WCCO in Minnesota reported that Hudson was arrested Thursday night in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Will County Jail records indicate Burnett was arrested April 6 in Joliet on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm.