Stewartville, Minn. — A quiet southern Minnesota town was shaken before sunrise Friday when an adult man opened fire in the parking lot of Stewartville High School, striking a teenage wrestler as the team prepared to board a bus for an early-morning tournament. The student was rushed into emergency surgery and remains in critical but stable condition, authorities said, while the suspected shooter was found dead from what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
It was about 5 a.m. when the first calls began flooding into emergency dispatchers reporting gunfire in the high school’s lot as nearly 40 coaches and student athletes gathered for a wrestling meet trip. Teachers and staff were helping athletes load equipment when a sudden shot rang out, leaving a young teammate on the ground.
Coaches and first responders acted instantly, rendering aid to the injured teen until Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service arrived to transfer him to a hospital in nearby Rochester, where he was taken straight into surgery. The sheriff’s office later released the family’s permission that their son is in critical but stable condition, offering a small measure of relief to a community in shock.
Just moments after the first shot echoed, others at the scene heard a second. Deputies found an adult man lying nearby with a rifle in his hand. Law enforcement believes this second shot was self-inflicted. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, his identity has not been officially released by authorities.
Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson described the incident as extraordinarily rare for Stewartville, a community not accustomed to such violence. Investigators are still piecing together what led to the confrontation, including the nature of any relationship between the shooter and the wounded student. Officials have not released a motive, urging the public to avoid speculation as the investigation continues.
In the immediate aftermath, schools across the district — including both Stewartville High School and Middle School — canceled classes for the day. A reunification center was set up so families could quickly be reunited with students, and counselors and chaplains were brought in to support those grappling with the morning’s events.
Local and state leaders expressed their condolences and rallied around the community in public statements, emphasizing the need for unity in the face of tragedy. From Minnesota legislators to school administrators, the message was clear: coming together to support the injured student, his family, and a shaken town is the path forward.
As of now, authorities confirm there is no ongoing threat to Stewartville residents. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation, hoping to shed more light on what happened before dawn Friday and why.
