Charge: Man, 81, shot teacher over $50, farm parts

WILLMAR, Minn. (AP) — A popular Twin Cities area teacher was shot and killed in central Minnesota in a confrontation over a suspected stolen $50 and some farm parts, according to charges Tuesday against an 81-year-old man and his son.

Delbert Huber of rural Paynesville was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder. Huber's 45-year-old son, Timothy Huber, was charged with second-degree murder and aiding an offender. Both are accused in the death of 43-year-old Timothy Larson, a special education teacher at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West.

Kandiyohi County Attorney Jenna Fischer told The Associated Press it was "one of the most cold-blooded killings in our county's history."

"There's just no way he deserved this," Fischer said of the victim, who was shot over the weekend with a British bolt-action rifle.

According to the complaints, Delbert Huber told deputies that Larson's father, Norman, had hired him and his son to do chores while Larson's father attended a wedding out of state. Timothy Larson arrived Friday night to hunt for the weekend and asked the Hubers to move their farm machinery off the land and not return until Monday.

"Both Delbert Huber and Timothy Huber were angry about having to move the equipment," according to the complaint against Delbert Huber.

Delbert Huber also said his son was missing about $50 from his wallet and that they were missing some tractor parts.

"He (Delbert Huber) felt that Timothy Larson was somehow responsible for this although officers found no evidence to support that claim," the complaint said.

The Hubers returned to the Larson property Saturday morning, with Delbert Huber armed with the rifle — a .303-caliber British Enfield that he had cleaned and oiled, authorities said. Timothy Huber went to the barn to feed the cattle and chickens while his father remained in the car. Timothy Larson arrived and was confronted by Delbert Hubert as they both stood outside their vehicles, according to authorities.

Delbert Huber told authorities he thought he could get Larson to admit he took the money and get the money back, according to the complaint. He said the rifle had been unloaded, but he chambered a round on the spot, saying "I thought I could scare him to get him to give the money back," according to the complaint.

Delbert Huber told investigators he shot Larson, saying he was "dead right away," the complaint said. The teacher was shot in the chest.

At first, Timothy Huber told authorities that his father and the teacher had gotten into a fistfight but later admitted he did not see a brawl, according to the criminal complaints. He later told authorities that he was on the way to the barn when he heard his father and Larson argue and then came out of the barn when he heard gunfire. Delbert Huber said "that's it" and told his son to finish the chores, the younger Huber said, the complaints said.

The Hubers returned to the Larson farm about 7 p.m. Saturday. Timothy Hubert did chores and Delbert Hubert called 911 and said he had killed someone, the complaints said.

Fischer, the prosecutor, said Larson was unarmed. She said she plans to call a grand jury to consider a first-degree murder indictment against the Hubers.

Both Hubers remained in the Kandiyohi County Jail Tuesday, with bail set at $5 million bond for Delbert Huber and $1 million for his son. Neither has an attorney. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 24.

Larson was in his third year of teaching at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West, about 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis. "He was one of those teachers that everyone would have liked their child to have," Superintendent Jim Behle said of Larson.

Tags: k-12 education, news, updates, crime, willmar, minnesota