Update: Armed Person in Crisis at Rochester TV Station Dies

Update 9 p.m. Rochester Police say an armed man in crisis has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A news release issued by the police department Thursday night said crisis negotiators had been communicating with the man for several hours outside of the KAAL-TV studios. At some point during the multi-hour negotiation, the man consumed drugs and became more agitated.

Officers then heard a gunshot while they were still communicating with the man. He told officers he had fired the gun in his vehicle.

The news release said the man then began shooting at officers as police deployed pepper ball. The officers were protected by ballistic equipment and never returned fire, police say.

The man was found dead inside of the vehicle and no other injuries were reported. The Minnesota BCA is investigating the incident.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.

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Previous Version: Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester Police continue to deal with a "person in crisis" situation outside a local TV station.

Officers and other first responders rushed to the TJ Maxx Plaza along Highway 52 in Southwest Rochester around 2 PM after receiving reports that a person was threatening to shoot themselves and shoot anyone who walked past them. Initial reports from the scene indicated that prompted a lockdown of the entire shopping complex.

That lockdown is now limited to areas next to the KAAL-TV studios, where the armed man is sitting in a minivan parked outside the building. A police van is parked behind the minivan, and is preventing him from leaving.

Rochester Police Chief Jim Franklin held a brief news conference at the scene this afternoon and stated the ongoing situation no longer poses a threat to the general public.

Chief Franklin says the KAAL-TV building has been evacuated and the occupants are safe.

Franklin also confirmed that the man had communicated his threats to kill himself and harm others through phone calls and social media that were shared with law enforcement dispatchers. At the time of the news conference, Franklin was not aware of any active threats against the TV station or other media outlets.

Those communications included a Facebook Live stream that is no longer available for viewing.

Initial reports indicated the entire shopping center had been placed in lockdown, but the lockdown has since been reduced to an area near the KAAL-TV studios are located and the individual is in a vehicle parked in front of the building.

Police rushed to the scene shortly after 2 PM after receiving reports that a person was threatening to shoot themselves and others.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.