A man fired gunshots at Owatonna officers during a stop last night, leading to a shelter-in-place order and an hours-long police response that ended when he shot himself and was taken into custody early this morning.
The incident began around 8:20 p.m. on July 1, when officers responded to a report of a person in crisis who had left in a vehicle, according to the Owatonna Police Department. Officers found the vehicle on West Bridge Street and stopped it at South Oak Avenue and Southview Street.
Officers saw cuts on the driver’s forearm, the department said. During the stop, the driver, a 36-year-old Owatonna man, became uncooperative, reached for a firearm and began shooting at the officers.
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The man drove off and stopped on the 200 block of West McKinley Street, between Oak Avenue and Linn Avenue. Officers contained the area, and at about 10:15 p.m. police issued a shelter-in-place order for a man they described as armed and suicidal who had fired at officers.
At around 12:20 a.m., the man shot himself. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported for medical care.
No officers were injured.
Officers were assisted by the Steele and Rice County sheriff’s offices, the Minnesota State Patrol, and SWAT teams from SCDIU and Rice County. The scene remains under investigation.
Police asked anyone traveling in the area to use caution and obey road closures.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
