Alert on Campus: Manhunt Underway for Suspect Who Threatened Shooting at University of Minnesota (Update)

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News)- Authorities are searching for a man they say made a shooting threat targeting the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. 

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Officials shared news of the threat with the public shortly before 7:30 Thursday morning. Law enforcement has the name of the man who made the threat and his physical description.

 A series of posts on X, formally known as Twitter, from the University of Minnesota’s news account identifies the threat suspect as 41-year-old Joseph Mark Rongstad. 

Officials say he threatened to shoot people on the university’s campus in the Twin Cities. Rongstad is described as 6 feet tall, 195 lbs, brown hair, hazel eyes. 

Authorities do not  have a clothing or vehicle description available. The University of Minnesota Police Department says they have deployed extra officers from their department and officers from partnering agencies on campus. 

Authorities are now asking students, who are still on break, and the public to avoid the campus. U of M employees are being asked to work from home on Thursday. 

Officials say the Minnesota BCA and the sheriff’s office in Rongstad’s county of residence, which has not been named, are investigating the threat. 

Story updated to include new information released by U of M authorities

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