Justice for Nicholas Enger

On June 5th, Nicholas Enger, a 17-year-old boy who had stopped to watch street racing with some friends in Minneapolis was shot and killed. We still do not have answers. Nicholas was not involved with any confrontation happening there. He very simply had a passion for cars and loved anything to do with cars and trucks. Or anything with a motor really. He loved to snowmobile, four-wheel, ride dirt bikes and drive his big truck with his friends. He had his snowmobile and boaters license before he had his driver's license! He loved to work on cars and trucks and was often dragging his dad, Dan and Uncle Clint out into the garage to work on his car or truck. He was always working under the hood of some vehicle.

*Driving the family boat with Dad helping

 

They even had plans to work on a new car he had bought in the morning but that would never happen due to someone taking his life. But his life was not all about cars and trucks. He also loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt and fish. He was a member of the Blue Jacket Student anglers club for a couple years and loved all the club had to offer, especially the bass tournaments. He loved to ice fish up at Lake of the woods or Red lake every year with his family. He would also fish local lakes in a pop-up fish house. His last Christmas, he received his own depth finder and ice auger for fishing which was a big deal to him. He even enjoyed catfishing late summer nights or sturgeon fishing with his brother Anthony, Dad Dan and Uncle Clint on the river. His stepbrother Anthony was only 2 months older to the day, and they shared many interests over the years.  They shared many of the same interests and he misses Nicholas so much.  He loved camping with the whole family. Every Summer from when he was barely old enough to ride a bike, he would go camping with his family and cousins at Big Sandy Lake in Minnesota. He had his trapping license and had taken a gun safety class. He also was involved with many sports over the years but loved wrestling with Dad as his coach. He saved all the trophies and medals he earned over the years.

 

*Bass tournament, member of the Blue Jacket Anglers

 

He was the perfect brother, always ready to pick on his little sister but made sure no one ever hurt her. They were always together, wherever Nicholas was, Amber was close behind. She has a whole lifetime of memories up until this point that include her big brother. She looked up to him and now is mourning a future that she always dreamed of that included an uncle to her children when she grew up. Or being in his wedding and watching him become a dad. She also misses her brother every day and is trying to learn to live without him.  So many of our dreams for him were also taken from us.

 

 

 

 

*Ice fishing with the family on Lake of the woods.

 

The weight of losing him has taken a toll on everyone in the family in so many ways. There are many hopes and dreams we will never get to see Nicholas fulfill. He had so many interests and hobbies, I could write a book about them all. He was an outgoing, passionate and caring person. He had so many friends and touched so many lives. He would do anything for his friends and always was there to help them if he could. He was always there to help his grandma after his grandpa passed away to mow the lawn, change the oil, rake leaves or shovel snow. He loved his mom and wasn't afraid to call her "mama" in front of his friends or tell her all about his day.

*Nicholas being goofy with mom Fall 2020

 

Even though he had grown taller and was almost a man, he was never too old to cuddle up on the couch with her to watch a movie. The world lost a great young man, and it will never be the same, especially for those who loved him.

Parent's always worry, worry that their kids will get in an accident on icy roads or get sick when it's cold outside. We are always warning our children to be careful, but we never truly expect to bury our children. We never expect them to be a victim of a homicide, especially when they grow up in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. He didn't deserve this. And no family deserves what our family has gone through. Our goofy, funny, compassionate boy is gone. We had to celebrate his 18th birthday without him. Our Christmas' will never be the same, there will always be an empty place at our table and in our hearts, until we are reunited with him in heaven. The police are doing everything they can for us and we understand the situation in Minneapolis is a tough one. We are very appreciative for everything they are doing to find the shooter. I can't imagine the pain and heartbreak they see everyday. The only thing we can do now is ask for justice. Justice for our son and closure for us. Somone out there pulled a trigger on June 5th, 2021 and ended a life. A life that was not theirs to take. There are also people out there, who know who that person is. We are praying they would do the right thing and call the tip line at 612-692-TIPS (8477). We would like to offer a reward for information that would lead to an arrest, charges and conviction of the shooter but after burying our son expenses have added up and we need help from the community that helped us raise our child. Our little Blue Jacket preschooler will not walk the aisle with his class this year, 2022. We have been greatly appreciative of the support from our family, friends and the community and would be greatly appreciative for an additional help in raising the money for a reward. We will also be hosting a benefit to raise money for a reward at the Pinewood in Cambridge MN on March 4th, 2022. More information to come on this. I've always liked the saying "it takes a village to raise a child." I just never even thought about it taking a village to bury child.

 

 

 

*Tubing behind the family boat with brother Anthony

 

*Riding on the snowmobile with his Dad, which later would become his snowmobile.

 

 

 

Nicholas with his sister Amber in a cool Jeep.