BROWN COUNTY, Minn. — A man suspected in a double homicide in southern Minnesota was captured Sunday afternoon, roughly 12 hours after authorities say he fatally shot two people in a home in the small town of Hanska.
According to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence in Hanska just before 4:30 a.m. on Sunday following a 911 call reporting gunfire. A juvenile caller told dispatchers that his mother’s ex-boyfriend had broken into their home and opened fire, shooting his mother and another man inside the house.
When deputies arrived, they discovered the bodies of a 32-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man, both of whom had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Officials have not yet released the victims’ names pending notification of family members. The shocking incident has left the quiet community of roughly 400 residents reeling in grief and disbelief.
Investigators quickly identified the suspected gunman as 45-year-old Randy Thomas Zimmerman. Authorities issued an alert describing Zimmerman’s vehicle and clothing, warning the public that he was armed and dangerous and might have fled the state. Multiple law enforcement agencies in surrounding regions were notified as the search intensified throughout the morning.
By late afternoon, authorities confirmed that Zimmerman had been apprehended in Iowa with assistance from several local and state agencies. His arrest occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m., exactly 12 hours after the initial 911 call was made. Officials have not provided details on how Zimmerman was located or whether he resisted arrest.
As of Monday, Zimmerman remains in custody in Iowa while authorities work to extradite him back to Minnesota to face charges related to the killings. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are continuing their investigation to determine a motive and the sequence of events that led to the deadly shooting. The community of Hanska, shaken by the tragedy, is now mourning the loss of two residents and awaiting justice in a case that has stunned the region.
