Eden Prairie Center reopens after man fatally shoots self Monday night

Operations officials with Eden Prairie Center tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the shopping center will have normal business hours Tuesday after a man fatally shot himself at the Scheels store Monday night.

According to Elliott Jacobson, the operations manager for Eden Prairie Center, the mall reopened at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Scheels also told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the store will be open Tuesday afternoon.

As previously reported, police say one shot was fired in the Scheels store just before 7:30 p.m. Monday. Multiple agencies responded to the call.

“When these incidents come out, we don’t know what we’re expecting, so we appreciate all those resources. Partners from the federal agencies, state agencies and a lot of agencies around us,” said Eden Prairie Police Chief Matt Sackett.

A lockdown was put in place but had been lifted as of 9:20 p.m.

Sackett said a 19-year-old man was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to police, the man had asked to see a semi-automatic handgun in the store, then ran to another part of the store after receiving the unloaded weapon.

Police said Tuesday that they believe the man brought his own ammunition into the store.

“It’s a tragic event when anyone loses a life, no matter how it happens. So, we’re grateful in a sense that nobody else was hurt, but it’s obviously a large event to deal with,” Sackett said.

Here is a list of suicide prevention and mental health resources:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988
• Crisis Text Line – Text MN to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
• Minnesota Department of Human Service’s adult mental health resources
  • DHS map and list of statewide adult mental health crisis response phone numbers
  • DHS map and list of statewide children’s mental health crisis response phone numbers
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Minnesota
• Veterans Crisis Line at 988, Option 1 or by texting 838255
• Minnesota Farm and Rural Mental Health Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FarmStress” to 898211

If you believe someone is at risk of suicide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests you:

• Ask questions about whether the individual is having suicidal thoughts.
• Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• Seek help from a medical or mental health professional. If it is an emergency situation, take the person to a hospital.
• Remove any objects from a person’s home that could be potentially used in a suicide.
• Do not leave the person alone, if possible, until help is available.