Assault Triggers Inadvertent Active Shooter Alert in Winona, Suspect in Custody
Winona, MN (KROC-AM News)- An assault triggered an inadvertent Active Shooter Alert and a Shelter in Place Order in Winona Monday evening.
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A news release issued by the Winona Police Department says the incident began around 5:20 p.m. when officers took the report of an assault at a business in the 250 block of Junction St.
Police say an employee had been assaulted with a sharp object. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Stig Ure, then fled the scene.
Winona State Community Receives False Active Shooter Alert
Law enforcement then issued a shelter-in-place order due to the “serious nature of the assault,” the news release says. Officials say several messages went out that caused confusion due to the multiple alert platforms law enforcement uses.
During the search for the Ure, a different platform that authorities say is not used by law enforcement, mistakenly sent out an Active Shooter Alert.
The Winona State University community was one of the recipients of the false alert. One of the text alerts read:
WSU ALERT: Update #2: Active shooter is reported to be in WEST WINONA. Not on or near WSU campus. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Updates will be issued when available. This is NOT a test.
-Inadvertent Active Shooter Alert Sent to Winona State Community
Authorities in Winona apologize for the communication snafu and say they’re working to identify areas to improve.
Police Find Winona Assault Suspect Hiding in Weeds Along Highway
Police say the victim of the reported assault suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A little over four hours after the initial assault response, a citizen who had received the alerts spotted an individual later identified as Ure crawling through weeds in the 1100 block of Hwy. 61, the news release says.
He was booked into the Winona County Jail around 11:50 Monday night. Ure is being held on suspicion of second-degree assault and disarming a police officer.
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross
