Authorities identify man killed in officer-involved shooting near Mankato

Monday, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man killed following an officer-involved shooting near Mankato as 24-year-old Austin Dean Heights. 

According to a city of Mankato news release, law enforcement officers responded to a report of an armed robbery just after noon at a BP gas station at 51674 U.S. Highway 169.

Two clerks at the gas station told KSTP the male suspect walked in carrying a rifle, used the restroom, loaded his backpack with soda and beef jerky and left. He didn't threaten anyone inside, the clerks said; he just walked out without saying a word.

He then fled from the gas station and crossed the highway toward the Kiwanis Recreation Area, according to the release.

Robbery suspect killed on raft in officer-involved shooting near Mankato

After a search, officers found Heights on a raft on the Minnesota River. He started shooting at the officers, and the officers then returned fire according to the release.

When Heights was taken out of the river, he was found to be dead.

The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office issued a shelter-in-place alert around 1:45 p.m. in response to the shootout. That alert was lifted a few hours later.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident.