Rochester Man Accused of Murdering His Father, Shooting at His Neighbor During Burglary

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man is multiple charges for shooting and killing his father then shooting at his neighbor during a burglary. 

Read More: Rochester Police ID Suspect Arrested Following Fatal Shooting and Burglary 

That's according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court Tuesday morning. 35-year-old Michael Joseph Milbrandt was arrested in southeast Rochester Sunday night. 

The Rochester man is facing charges of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree burglary. 

Rochester Man Charged for Shooting Death of His Father, Burglary of Neighbor's House

Rochester police responded to an emergency call that originated from a parking lot in the 1200 block of Marion Rd. SE shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday. 

Upon arrival, officers found a man lying in the snow suffering from a gunshot wound to his head, the complaint says. Two witnesses told police they heard an argument followed by a gunshot. 

One witness said they heard someone say “don’t shoot” before the gunfire, the court document states. 

Police learned the gunshot victim was Milbrandt’s father. He was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital where he died from his injuries, Rochester police said. 

Drug Use Involved in Rochester Murder Case, Charges say

The owners of the property indicated to police that Milbrandt had rented out an Air BNB set up in the basement of the property where the fatal shooting occurred. 

Milbrandt’s wife told police that she had kicked him out of their home two days prior to the shooting due to his drug use and that she knew he was staying at an Air BNB. Officers also learned that Milbrandt’s father had gone to the Air BNB to have a conversation, the complaint says. 

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Moments after finding Milbrandt’s father, officers were called to a home in the 2700 block of Marion Rd. SE on the report of an intruder armed with a pistol entering an occupied home. 

Neighbor Says He Was Shot At Twice During Burglary That Followed Fatal Rochester Shooting

Responding officers found Milbrandt’s vehicle at the home and found the homeowner wrestling with Milbrandt. Police heard a man screaming when they entered the home. Officers then apprehended Milbrandt. 

The homeowner, described in the complaint as a friend and neighbor of Milbrandt’s, said he was in the home’s basement with his wife when he heard a crashing noise upstairs. 

When he went up to investigate, he saw Milbrandt coming towards him with a drawn pistol and an attached flashlight. The man said Milbrandt fired a gunshot at him and missed, the charges say. 

The homeowner then tried to disarm Milbrandt and said at one point during the struggle, Milbrandt fired a second shot at him as the pistol was near the victim’s head, the complaint states. 

He then called out to his wife to get a child living in the home outside of the house, the complaint says. His wife told officers she took the child outside. 

 The homeowner stated he had spoken with Milbrandt’s father about trying to convince Milbrandt to get help for his drug use. He also said that Milbrandt had been “spiraling in drug use,” the charges say. 

Police found a pool of blood and glock handgun at the scene. There was also a bullet hole in a wall-mounted TV and a shell casing at the scene, the complaint says.

Milbrandt made his first appearance in Olmsted County Court Tuesday morning. He is being held on $1 million bail without conditions. His next court date has not yet been set.