Police: Man, 72, arrested at Willmar business after threatening to 'shoot the place up'

A Renville County man is facing serious charges and possible prison time after allegedly threatening to shoot a business in Willmar this week.

It happened Wednesday afternoon on the 4100 block of south 1st St. According to a news release from the Willmar Police Department, a 911 caller reported that "there was a male party at the business who was unhappy and had threatened to shoot the place up."

The caller also told police that this same person had been at the business a few days earlier and "threatened to return with a firearm."

Employees were evacuated as police responded to the scene. Officers confronted the suspect, who was compliant and was quickly taken into custody, the release says.

The suspect, who has been identified as a 72-year-old from the city of Danube, was found to be unarmed.

He was booked into the Kandiyohi County Jail on a felony charge of Threats of Violence. If convicted, he faces $10,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.

Police have not disclosed what led up to the alleged threats.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.