Charges: Standoff Suspect Shot at by Rochester Officer Was Armed Replica Airsoft Rifle

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The armed man shot at by a police officer moments before a lengthy standoff in Rochester Sunday morning has made his first court appearance. 

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He is facing two felony charges. The Rochester Police Department said the incident began with the report of a domestic dispute involving a knife in southwest Rochester Saturday night. 

The situation came to a peaceful ending following a more than four hour standoff Sunday morning. 

Fleeing and Threats Charges Filed Against Standoff and Domestic Dispute Suspect Shot at by Rochester Officer

The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court Tuesday morning, identifies the suspect as 29-year-old Luis Enrique Ovalle of Rochester. He’s charged with fleeing and terroristic threats. 

Rochester police responded to the report of Ovalle outside of a residence in the in the 3800 block of Willow Ridge Dr. Southwest. Ovalle had left the scene in a minivan before law enforcement arrived, the complaint says. 

After officers responded to the domestic report, a man who identified himself as Ovalle called dispatch multiple times. He sounded intoxicated, swore at dispatchers and sounded as though he was in a vehicle, the complaint says. 

Officers then went to Ovalle’s home in the 2700 block of 1st Ave. Southwest. Police spotted and attempted to stop the vehicle Ovalle was driving but the Rochester man refused to stop, the charges allege. 

Police then terminated the effort to stop the vehicle and waited near Ovalle’s residence. Around 12:15 Sunday morning, Ovalle pulled into the home’s driveway. 

Officers converged on the home and ordered Ovalle to show his hands. Ovalle revealed his left hand then emerged from the vehicle with a rifle, according to the court document. 

The complaint says he pointed the rifle in the direction of the first officer to arrive, turned it towards an arriving officer then pointed back at the first officer. 

The first officer fired one gunshot at Ovalle. Ovalle was not hit and retreated into the residence where he barricaded himself, the complaint says.

At the conclusion of the standoff, police executed a search warrant on the home and found a replica AR-style airsoft gun. Police also found a knife inside of the van Ovalle was driving, the charges say. 

Ovalle made his first court appearance Tuesday morning. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting Rochester police with the investigation.