A 41-year-old suspect has been taken into custody after threatening to unleash a shooting spree on the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus, authorities confirmed. The man, identified by law enforcement, hailed from Watson, a stone's throw from Montevideo, and was arrested safely, reported KARE 11. The chilling incident triggered lockdowns in the campus vicinity, sharply escalating security measures and putting local school districts on high alert.
Earlier, the University of Minnesota had issued an urgent warning after the suspect reportedly threatened to attack the campus. The university's police department began to closely work with regional law enforcement to trace and apprehend the man. "We are deeply grateful to the many law enforcement partners who contributed to today’s investigation," said a U of M spokesperson in a statement obtained by KARE 11.
Terrified students and faculty were sent a SAFE-U alert early morning when the threat initially surfaced. It read that the campus community was in potential shooting danger. "I definitely saw more law enforcement than I usually see, so I guess they're amping up just in case as a precautionary measure," student Jeremy Plofsky told CBS News Minnesota.
While the investigation unfolded, the University transitioned to remote operations, reminiscent of the pivot made during the COVID pandemic. "The U of M is able to function remotely because of our experience doing it during the COVID pandemic," added the U of M spokesperson in a statement seen by CBS News Minnesota. The campus tension simmered down eventually when an "all clear" alert post 1 p.m. informed everyone that the suspect was no longer a threat and normal campus activities could resume.
This is not the suspect's first brush with the law, background checks revealed an extensive criminal history with offenses ranging from drug possession to burglary. The man was also once the mayor of Watson and had previously been committed to mental illness and chemical dependency. According to a previous interview conducted by Jessica Stolen, editor of the Montevideo American News, the suspect had expressed that his charity work served as reparations for his past actions. The distressing posts on a Facebook account believed to belong to the suspect included a declaration to make the drive to the U of M "to start killing kids," according to KARE 11's review of the account. Thankfully, due to prompt action by law enforcement agencies, the situation was defused before any violence could ensue.
