Police: Stolen Gun Recovered After Rochester Kwik Trip Threat

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Felony charges have been filed against a man who was arrested Saturday afternoon following an incident involving a gun at a Rochester convenience store.

Rochester police reported that officers were sent to the Kwik Trip store along South Broadway around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday after receiving a report of a man with a handgun “behaving strangely and making an alarming comment.”

Store Manager Reports Disturbing Comment From Suspect

The criminal complaint against 31-year-old Brandon James Becker says the responding officers were told by the store manager that Becker had been in the business about an hour earlier and was swearing loudly. The manager indicated that he told Becker he would not be allowed back into the store if he continued behaving that way and that Becker responded with a statement to the effect of, “I’m going to make this place go boom.”

According to the court document, the manager said he was able to de-escalate the situation and that Becker left without incident.

The charging document says Becker returned to the convenience store shortly after 4:15 p.m. and was observed by an employee with what appeared to be a gun concealed in his front pocket. The manager told officers that when Becker exited the store, he turned and stated that he had a gun. The manager also reported that he later observed Becker on surveillance video pointing the gun at the southeast corner of the building.

Stolen Weapon Found After Hotel Search Warrant

About half an hour later, police located Becker next door at the Rochester Inn Motel. The criminal complaint says Becker told officers the gun was in his room. Police then obtained a search warrant and found the weapon, which had been reported stolen earlier this year in Winona County.

Becker was arraigned today in Olmsted County Court on felony charges of making terroristic threats and receiving stolen property. His bail has been set at $50,000.

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