Police: Man who pulled gun in Edina hospital was arrested about hour later at home 28 miles away

Police on Wednesday said the man who pulled a gun during a domestic dispute in a hospital room at M Health Fairview Southdale in Edina on Tuesday was tracked down and arrested barely an hour later at his home 28 miles away.

At a media briefing near the scene late Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Todd Milburn said officers were called at 2:55 p.m. to a report of someone with a gun at the hospital at 6401 France Av. S.

Law enforcement from multiple agencies swarmed the hospital, which was placed on lockdown, where they learned the suspect had left after a domestic assault or dispute inside an eighth-floor room.

“During that domestic situation somebody produced a handgun, and that’s what led to the 911 call,” Milburn said, adding that no shots were fired.

The suspect was found and arrested about 4 p.m. without incident, and a gun was recovered, the chief said.

On Wednesday, police released a report that disclosed that the 65-year-old man was apprehended in the west metro suburb of Independence at his home on the southern shore of Lake Sarah.

The report listed the victim as a Minneapolis woman with the same last name.

Milburn lauded not only the responding agencies, but also hospital security and staff for the speed with which they initiated the lockdown, which lasted about an hour. Although no one was hurt, Milburn called the situation “very serious.”

“When you think about public safety in a hospital setting or a school setting, that’s first and foremost that we get to the scene and secure it to make sure that is everyone is safe,” he said. “It’s unfortunate in this day and age that we see this from time to time, but our officers and public safety staff train for this type of thing, which is why and how you see the response that you do. It’s a lot of resources that come to a scene like this, but it’s very intentional.”

Multiple agencies rushed to the scene, and hospital officials worked with law enforcement to pursue the suspect, said Fairview Health Services spokesperson Jill Fischer.

A Star Tribune reporter who was at the hospital when the incident unfolded witnessed at least 30 officers in full gear and weapons race into the hospital through an east entrance, while armored trucks were parked outside.

No gunshots were heard and the hospital was not evacuated. At about 4 p.m. the scene appeared to be stabilized, although police remained there.