WINONA, Minn. — An emergency alert intended for a specific area of Winona Monday evening caused confusion throughout the city after multiple alert platforms sent out several different messages, including one about an "active shooter."
In a joint press release from Winona Police Chief Tom Williams and Winona County Sheriff Ron Ganrude, the intended alert was for a "shelter-in-place" after a man allegedly assaulted an employee at a business on the 250 block of Junction Street just before 5:30 p.m. The suspect fled the scene, and due to the severity of the crime, police requested nearby residents shelter in place while law enforcement searched the area.
While sending out the alert, law enforcement says multiple alert platforms sent out messages, including one platform not used by law enforcement that mistakenly sent out a message about an active shooter. According to officials, emergency alerts are sent out by the Winona County Sheriff's Office at the request of law enforcement agencies.
"We apologize for the confusion caused by the emergency alert systems in this case," said Williams and Ganrude in their joint statement. "The Winona Police Department and Winona County Sheriff's Office are working together to identify areas for improvement. Ultimately, our goal is to provide the best public safety for all residents of Winona."
Officials say victim at the business suffered non-life threatening injuries and the suspect was eventually taken into custody.
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