Sheriff confirms identity of suspect in Cook County Co-op stabbing
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the identity of a suspect in connection with a stabbing at the Cook County Co-op on Saturday, Dec. 27.
Donovan Vondall, 32, of Grand Portage, Minn., was arrested on Saturday at 6:38 p.m. in connection with the co-op stabbing incident.
Vondall is an employee of the Cook County Co-op. Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen told WTIP that Vondall has not been formally charged yet, but is being held at the Cook County Law Enforcement Center.
Donovan Vondall Mugshot | Cook County Sheriff’s Office
On Saturday, at 3:45 p.m., the Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stabbing near the Cook County Co-op grocery store in downtown Grand Marais. Several bystanders called 911 to report that a male had been stabbed and was bleeding.
First responders arrived on scene and provided immediate medical aid to the victim, identified as Thomas Peterson of St. Paul, Minn. Peterson was then transported by ambulance to North Shore Health.
Eliasen told WTIP that Peterson is still alive and expected to recover.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Vondall left the grocery store following the stabbing incident but was located by deputies and apprehended.
The Cook County Co-op closed for the remainder of Saturday and on Sunday following the incident. The grocery store was expected to re-open on Monday, Dec. 29, but in the early morning hours announced that the store would remain closed on Monday and re-open at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
“We ask for your patience and assure you that we are critically engaged in keeping the Co-op a safe space for everyone,” the Cook County Co-op Board of Directors wrote in a Monday email to Cook County Co-op members.
WTIP contacted Cook County Co-op management for additional information about the incident, but was told no additional comment was available at this time.
WTIP will update this article as more information is made available.
Kalli Hawkins December 29, 2025
