Pine Island Felon Accused of Threatening to Shoot Up Rochester Hotel

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Pine Island felon, who is accused of threatening to shoot up a Rochester hotel, is in custody. 

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Rochester police responded to the incident shortly after 11:30 on Thursday morning. The criminal complaint was filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday. 

The court document says officers responded to a southwest Rochester hotel on the report of an individual trespassing and making threats. 

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Homeless Pine Island Man Made Threats to Shoot Guests & Staff at Rochester, MN Hotel, Complaint says

Multiple witnesses told police that a man identified as 39-year-old Robert James Wipf was walking through the hotel and mimicked holding a gun as he was making shooting threats towards guests, the complaint says. 

One woman told police that she distanced herself from Wipf after he made derogatory comments to her. The complaint states she claimed Wipf then made a shooting gesture and said, “this is how I shoot white boys.” 

A witness corroborated the woman's report, the complaint says. A hotel manager said Wipf also threatened to shoot her and another witness told police Wipf threatened to shoot him and told hotel staff he would “shoot them all up.” 

Wipf was inside of the hotel for about 20 minutes and police found him in the hotel’s parking lot, according to the court document. The complaint does not say if he was armed when police found him. 

Wipf, who is listed in the complaint as homeless, is charged with one count of felony terroristic threats. His bail was at $20,000 without conditions following his first court appearance on Friday. 

Court records indicate Wipf has a criminal record that dates back to 2004 and includes felony convictions for threats, domestic assault and drug possession. He’s due back in court later this month.