2 victims in critical condition; no suspects in custody

Mayhem broke out at a teen dance of more than 100 people Saturday night, as five people were shot, including two from Austin. No one is in custody, Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi said.

Two victims are in critical condition after the shooting, which took place around midnight at the Lansing Corners Event Center, about four miles north of Austin on the corner of Highway 218 and County Highway 2.

A 21-year-old Sioux Falls, S.D., man — who was shot in the chest — and a 19-year-old Rochester man — who was shot twice in the chest and once in the right thigh — are both in critical condition, according to Amazi.

A 23-year-old Austin woman suffered two gunshot wounds to the stomach and one to the left hand, a 17-year-old Austin boy was shot in the foot, and a 17-year-old boy from Sioux Falls, S.D., was shot in the back of his right leg. The Sheriff’s office didn’t have an update on the 23-year-old and the two 17-year-olds, except to say they are not in critical condition.

Authorities didn’t release the names of the victims. All five are being or were treated at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Amazi said they interviewed many witnesses, with all saying, “I didn’t see anything.” Without cooperation, this case will stall soon, she said. Amazi urges anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s office at 507-437-9400 or 800-437-9409.

Dustin Plank and his family heard the commotion from their home near Lansing Corners. Plank said he thought someone was banging at the door, but his wife said it sounded like gunfire. Once Plank went outside, he heard people yelling and saw people leaving the event center.

“[I saw] cars peeling out like crazy,” he said.

The family stayed indoors after that, only answering when police asked them questions, according to Plank.

Ari Kolas, a co-owner of Lansing Corners, said the property was being rented for a private event Saturday evening, but he was in Rochester when the shooting happened. Dave Olson, the other owner, said he was there, but was cleaning up inside and didn’t see anything.

Lansing Corners, formerly a diner, sat vacant from 2008 until March of this year, when Olson and Kolas turned it into an event center to host wedding receptions, graduation parties, business functions and other special events. Lansing Corners originally opened in 1938 as a gas station and diner.

This is the second shooting in three days near Lansing. On Thursday, a 30-year-old woman was reportedly shot in the face as she drove away from a home four miles northeast of Lansing. Authorities believe the shootings are unrelated.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting the investigation, but is deferring all questions to the Mower County Sheriff’s office.

—Jason Schoonover and Trey Mewes contributed to this report.