Rochester Man Admits to Threats in Homemade Gun Incident

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A plea agreement has been reached in the case involving a Rochester man accused of trying to shoot another person with a homemade firearm.

A criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court in August says Rochester police officers were sent to a northwest Rochester apartment in late July after receiving a report of a person in crisis. The court document says the responding officers were told by two witnesses that 21-year-old Meridyan Robertson had attempted to shoot them.

Andy Brownell - TSM Rochester

Witnesses Report Attempted Shooting with Homemade Gun

Both victims described the firearm as a homemade device constructed from parts purchased at a hardware store. Those parts included a steel pipe with a shotgun shell inside. The criminal complaint says the officers were able to secure the homemade weapon and observed strike marks on the shell casing where a makeshift firing pin, fashioned from a bolt, had struck it.

Victim Feared Suspect Planned to Harm Family Members

One of the victims told officers that Robertson had pointed the device at him and attempted to “slam the device together to make it discharge,” but was unsuccessful. According to the criminal complaint, the victim told police he was afraid Robertson was going to kill him and other family members, and then himself.

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The responding police officers indicated that Robertson was later located riding a bike along 2nd Street Southwest. Court documents say he had a backpack with him that contained shotgun ammunition, camping gear, and perishable items.

TheCrimsonRibbon

Robertson was charged with a felony count of terroristic threats and a misdemeanor domestic assault charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Robertson admitted to the threats charge, while the domestic assault charge was dismissed.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.

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After having spent the greater part of the last three weeks outside Minnesota, it has been great to be back. We live in a very beautiful part of the country. From the North Shore's jagged cliffs to the rolling croplands of southern Minnesota and to the driftless area near Preston, our state is filled with beautiful sights. I managed to find 6 photos that were taken right here in Minnesota, but when you look at them, you'd think they were taken somewhere else completely. Let's enjoy the land of 10,000 photos, shall we?

Gallery Credit: Unsplash