WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — White Bear Lake Police said a burglar was found shot dead in a house on Thursday, but didn't clarify what happened beyond that their officers didn't use any force.
The department wouldn't agree to an interview, writing in a statement on Friday that the investigation is active, but there's no ongoing threat to the community.
Police first said that officers responded to an in-progress burglary around 1:00 p.m. in the 1800 block of Highway 96. Neighbor Alexander Malik was just coming home from work when he saw what happened.
"The homeowner told me they had left and so I don't know if this person was watching their house or not because they left to get their car fixed or something and that's when it all happened," said Malik.
The homeowner spoke to KARE 11 reporter Jennifer Hoff off-camera and confirmed he had left the home for a nearby auto shop. He said the burglar first knocked on his front door and then went around back. He said the burglar broke a downstairs window to get inside. That alerted the homeowner's teenage daughter who was home alone, but escaped outside where she met the police.
"They definitely were shaken up and a little spooked for sure," said Malik.
Police say the suspect was still there, and despite trying to make contact, they didn't get a response.
The homeowner tells KARE 11 officers found the man, whom he didn't know, dead in an upstairs closet. The homeowner said the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound but is left with few answers as to why and what exactly led up to the burglary.
"It's definitely a weird, scary situation and on a busy street in the middle of the day," said Malik. "I would be interested in what other details come out and what they find out."
The latest full statement from White Bear Lake Police says, "This case remains an active investigation and we are not able to share additional details, answer specific questions or provide an on-camera interview. The only information I can share is that we have no reason to believe there is an active threat to the public."
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