Rochester Man Gets 80 Months For Andover Apartments Shooting

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A 40-year-old man has been sent to prison for his conviction in a Rochester shooting case.

Former Rochester Man Sentenced for 2024 Apartment Shooting

Rochester Police responded to the shooting in late July of 2024 and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s deputies captured the suspect during a traffic stop near the Hwy. 52/Marion Rd. interchange southeast of Rochester.

Witnesses told police they were standing outside of the Andover apartments, located in the 1900 block of 8 ½ St. SE, when they confronted the suspect, identified as Christopher Coleman, over him slapping a dog he was walking, according to the criminal complaint.

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23 Shots Fired

The charges say Coleman became angry and left the area but later returned and fired 23 gunshots from what one witness believed to be an assault rifle. No injuries were reported.

Investigators later learned one of the juveniles who confronted Coleman before the shooting showed him a gun that was tucked in his waistband, the complaint says.

Law enforcement later executed a search warrant for a residence in the Andover Apartments and found two firearm magazines loaded with ammunition that matched the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.

They also found the dog that Coleman was seen slapping before the confrontation and shooting, the court document says.

Plea Deal in May

Coleman was set to stand trial on three counts of assault and one count of illegal possession of a firearm but entered into a plea agreement in May, admitting to the illegal possession of a firearm charge in exchange for the dismissal of the felony assault counts.

Court records indicate Coleman was convicted of a felony firearm violation in Mower County in 2018 and felony domestic assault in Olmsted County in 2015.

The prosecution requested an aggravated sentence of 90 months in prison, while Coleman's defense attorney will argue for a 60-month prison term.

On Monday Coleman was sentenced to 80 months in prison.

Rochester Locals Re-name One Of The Popular Pieces of Art

Just outside the Rochester Art Center is a large, silver piece of art that is labeled "Tapered Arch-Shaped Sculpture" on Google Maps in Rochester, Minnesota. This 30-foot stainless steel piece of art was created by Po Shu Wang and installed in 2017. If you go inside the Mayo Civic Center, you'll also notice a kiosk that allows visitors to interact with this art sculpture.

Since its installation, several nicknames have been given by locals for this piece of art. Below are some of the more common names that people have given this shiny object throughout the years.

Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio