Police: 2 Shot At Burnsville Dollar Tree Store, Suspect In Custody
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) – Police are investigating what they call a senseless shooting inside a Twin Cities discount store.
A gunman walked into a Dollar Tree at a shopping center in Burnsville and shot two men around 12:30 p.m. Monday. Police caught the suspected shooter nearby, minutes later, thanks to the help of witnesses.
Police officers in Burnsville found themselves racing to the scene of an active shooter at around lunchtime. By the time they arrived, two men had been shot the store and the gunman had fled.
Even though an arrest has been made, police say they still don't have a motive.
"We are still putting the pieces together, and we still don't know the motivation behind the shooting," Burnsville police chief Eric Gieseke said. "But that doesn't change the fact that this was an incident that was extremely sad and had a tragic outcome."
Gieseke calls the shooting shocking. Shoppers inside Dollar Tree witnessed a man shoot two other men and then leave. Stephanie Steber woman was in the parking lot when it happened.
"I was just coming out and I heard the loud bang," Stephanie Steber said.
Steber had just walked out of Petco next door when she heard the gunshots, and then saw police officers and ambulances arrive.
"I'm very, very thankful I wasn't in there at the time," she said. "I don't know what could've happened if I was there."
Police say within minutes witnesses helped them identify the suspect's car. They say he surrendered to officers peacefully about two blocks away.
"It's devastating. It's upsetting, it was shocking when I heard the news, just like I'm sure it shocked all of you to hear of an active shooter in your community," Gieseke said. "It's very disturbing -- a sad, tragic incident. I can't tell you how sad I feel for the victims in this case. It's terrible."
The manager of the Dollar Tree says the store is equipped with cameras. The two men who were shot are at Hennepin County Medical Center, and their conditions are unknown.
