Rochester Man Pleads Guilty Just Before Shooting Trial Begins
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has pleaded guilty in a case involving a shooting that occurred last August at the Zumbro Ridge Estates manufactured home community.
Guilty Plea Entered Before Trial
Court records indicate 40-year-old Shawn Owen Dieser, who was scheduled to stand trial today in Olmsted County court, has leaded guilty to a felony charge of intentional discharge of a firearm that endangers safety. His plea agreement calls for the dismissal of a gross misdemeanor count of negligent storage of firearms.
Gunfire Reported at Zumbro Ridge Estates
According to the criminal complaint, Olmsted County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the manufactured home community just north of Rochester on the night of Aug. 22, 2025. The deputies were responding to reports that three gunshots had been fired at one of the residences.
The court document says the responding deputies attempted to contact Dieser by phone and through announcements over a public address system before a woman came out of the home and spoke with them. The criminal complaint says she told the deputies that Dieser was highly intoxicated and had asked for a shotgun earlier in the evening.
Children Found Inside Residence
The woman also indicated that two adolescent children were inside the residence, where deputies found Dieser asleep on a couch. After taking him into custody, the deputies found the two children in a bedroom across the hall from another bedroom where a loaded shotgun was located.
Live and Spent Shells Found at Scene
The deputies also reported finding two spent shotgun shells on the ground near the south-side porch of the residence, along with several live shotgun shells. A third spent shell was found on the porch along with two live shells. The criminal complaint says several ammunition boxes were also located on the porch, near the front door, and in the kitchen of the home.
Following his arrest, the court document says Dieser stated that his neighbor had issued death threats against him and that he fired one warning shot.
Witness Describes Multiple Gunshots
A witness in a neighboring residence told deputies he was awakened by a loud noise that he initially thought was fireworks, but then heard another loud noise and realized it was a gunshot. The witness indicated that he heard a third shot several minutes later and saw Dieser standing on his deck holding a shotgun.
The same witness also told deputies that he watched as Dieser repeatedly tried to cycle the shotgun and fire it, but the weapon did not discharge. The witness estimated that Dieser made 10 to 15 attempts to fire the gun without success.
Dieser is scheduled to be sentenced on the felony conviction in October.
New Food Vendors at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair
Gallery Credit: Carly Ross
More From KROC-AM
