One Person Killed in Freeborn County Shooting, Search Continues For Suspect

Albert Lea, MN (KROC-AM News) - One person was shot and killed in Freeborn County Tuesday afternoon, and authorities are searching for the suspect.

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Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag said in a news release officers were called to the 75000 block of 160th ST south of Albert Lea to a report of an adult male who had been shot around 3:20 p.m.

Authorities arrived and performed life-saving measures on the victim, but they were unsuccessful. The victim, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Freitag believes the victim and another man arrived at the residence in an SUV where the suspected shooter, 32-year-old Ben Moreno, was already at. Freitag said the victim and the other man left the residence in the SUV. Once the vehicle turned out of the driveway, the SUV was struck by multiple shots.

That is when the victim got out and walked back toward the house. The driver of the SUV heard one more shot and realized that the victim was not returning to the vehicle. That is when the driver left the scene.

Law enforcement has made contact with that man.

Freitag said moments after the shooting Moreno got in a 2004 Ford F-150 and drove away.

The Sheriff said Moreno and the victim were known to each other and there were issues between the two. The Sheriff does not believe there is a threat to the public.

The sheriff’s office is asking the public to call the Freeborn County Law Enforcement Center if someone sees a vehicle that matches the pickup that Moreno was last seen driving, which is a 2004 Ford F-150 4-door, MN license EUZ057. Freitag said not to approach the vehicle.

The dispatch center can be reached at 507-377-5200 ext 5 or 911.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting in the investigation.