Two people were found dead from gunshot wounds at Ravine Park in Cottage Grove early Wednesday morning, after a witness reported hearing gunfire to law enforcement at about 6:10 a.m. Officials said the victims knew each other and that the shooting does not appear to have been a random act of violence. The park remains closed until further notice as investigators work the scene.
The deaths were confirmed by officials and reported by the Star Tribune, which cited the Washington County Sheriff's Office in detailing the timeline. Officials have not yet released the identities of the two people killed. The sheriff's office said there is no active threat to the community, even as the investigation continues at the Cottage Grove park.
Three Facilities Closed, Two Have Reopened
In the hours after the shooting, three public facilities near Ravine Park shut their doors as a precaution: Cottage Grove City Hall, a public shooting range operated jointly by Cottage Grove and Woodbury, and a Washington County service center. Cottage Grove spokesman Phil Jents said the closures were made out of an abundance of caution while officers responded to the scene, according to the same Star Tribune report.
City Hall and the shooting range have since reopened, the Star Tribune reported. Accounts diverged on the fate of the county service center for the rest of Wednesday: the Star Tribune reported the facility would remain closed for the rest of the day, while the Pioneer Press reported it was expected to reopen later Wednesday.
Investigators Say Shooting Was Not Random
According to the preliminary investigation, the two people found at Ravine Park knew each other, and officials say the shooting does not appear to have been random. CBS News Minnesota reported that the sheriff's office did not say whether investigators believe the shooting was a murder-suicide, though the agency's news release did mention domestic violence.
Beyond that detail, authorities have offered little else about what led to the shooting or how the two victims were connected. No further information on a motive or the circumstances surrounding their deaths has been made public. The investigation into the deaths at Ravine Park remains active as Cottage Grove residents are asked to avoid the closed park area until further notice.
