Rochester PD: False Break-in Accusations Led up to Downtown Apartment Shooting

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester Police Department is releasing more information regarding a shooting that happened at a downtown Rochester apartment building Friday morning. 

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The shooting at the Park Towers Apartments at 22 North Broadway resulted in a woman receiving a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Over the weekend police identified the suspected shooter as 61-year-old Robin Helmueller. 

Police Captain Casey Moilanen said Monday the shooting victim is a 51-year-old woman who manages the building. The investigation so far indicates that Helmueller thought his apartment was being broken into and that he was being stolen from. 

Moilanen said Helmueller suspected his neighbor of stealing from him and that he attempted to break into his neighbor’s unit on Thursday night. The break-in attempt was unsuccessful and damaged the door of the neighboring unit. Moilanen said Helmueller’s claims of repeated burglary and theft are unsubstantiated. 

On Friday the manager informed Helmueller that he had to cover the costs to repair the neighboring unit's lock. Helmueller responded by withdrawing a black-powder revolver and shot the woman in her left forearm, Moilanen said. 

Helmueller then tried to fire the gun a second time but failed to do so, Moilanen said. The manager’s secretary and a maintenance worker then rushed into the manager’s office and were able to wrestle the gun away from Helmueller and restrain him, according to the police report. 

Moilanen said the secretary appeared to have been struck in the head by the gun during the struggle. An Olmsted County Sheriff’s Deputy then arrived at the apartment and detained Helmueller without further incident. Helmueller was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault. 

Moilanen indicated that Helmueller suffers from mental illness and that he has had prior run-ins with law enforcement. Helmueller remained in the Olmsted County Jail over the weekend and is awaiting arraignment in Olmsted County Court.

Moilanen said guns are allowed in the Park Towers.