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On Wednesday, August 26, 2009, at approximately 1:10 a.m., Duluth Police were dispatched to 3930 Grand Avenue regarding a possible shooting. Witnesses in the area described hearing what sounded like a single gunshot coming from that address. Shortly after hearing the gunshot they observe three women leave the scene on foot. These women are eventually located and are believed to be witnesses to the shooting. Officers entered the building and located a deceased male victim in apartment one. It appeared the victim had been shot in the head. Officers were unable to locate a suspect at the scene.    

The body of the victim was transported to the St. Louis County Medical Examiners Office, where an autopsy was conducted. The Medical Examiner has preliminarily determined the cause of death was a single gun shot wound to the head and has ruled the death a homicide. The victim has been identified as Mario Demon Highler DOB 01/21/1978 of Duluth. Next of kin have been notified.

During the course of the investigation information was developed that Stephen Louis Cobenais DOB 09/07/1984, who is the renter of the apartment where the shooting occurred, was the suspect in this homicide. Investigators determined that Cobenais is currently at 612 East 6^th Street.  The residence was secured and Cobenais was contacted by negotiators. At approximately 3:10 p.m. Cobenais walked out of the residence and was taken into custody without incident. Earlier today an arrest warrant was issued for Cobenais charging him with second degree murder. Cobenais will be lodged at the St. County Jail pursuant to the arrest warrant. The investigation into the homicide continues. 

The Duluth Police Department is asking anyone with information about this homicide to contact the Duluth Police Violent Crimes Unit at 218-730-5050.