Stewartville High School Shooting: Student-Athlete Critically Injured; Suspect Found Dead, Police Say
Stewartville, MN – A shooting early Friday morning in the parking lot of Stewartville High School left one person dead and a teenage boy in critical condition, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said the incident happened as the school’s wrestling team was preparing to leave for a tournament. Authorities received a 911 call around 5 a.m. reporting gunfire at the high school, about 10 miles south of Rochester.
When deputies arrived, they found two victims in the parking lot. A male teenager suffered a gunshot wound and was rushed to a local hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and remained in critical condition. Investigators said the student was shot while walking toward a bus that was waiting outside the school.
An adult male was found dead nearby with a rifle next to him. Authorities said the death appears to be self-inflicted. Sheriff Kevin Torgerson stated that a bus carrying about 40 coaches and student-athletes was parked in front of the school when the violence occurred. Investigators said a coach discovered the wounded student shortly after the first shot, and a second shot—believed to be self-inflicted—was reported around that time.
Officials have not released the deceased man’s name. However, investigators said they are working to confirm the relationship between the adult and the student, as well as a possible motive. Some early reports have circulated suggesting the adult was a former coach, but authorities urged the public and media to avoid speculation until details are formally verified.
In response to the shooting, the district canceled classes for the day at Stewartville High School and the adjacent middle school. Students who were present during the team’s departure were reunited with their families, and officials said many were not immediately aware of the full seriousness of what had happened.
Stewartville Superintendent Belinda Selfors called it “an incredibly difficult day for our community” and emphasized the importance of supporting one another. The district said it mobilized support services for students, staff, and families through the weekend and into the following week. The district also canceled Friday night’s scheduled basketball game with Lourdes.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to confirm all circumstances surrounding the shooting.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free and confidential).
