Man arrested in Burnsville homicide has violent criminal past

The man suspected of shooting two people — one fatally — at the Dollar Tree store in Burnsville Monday has a violent criminal history.

The 27-year-old suspect was booked late Monday into the Dakota County jail on probable cause of first-degree premeditated murder, assault and felon illegally in possession of a weapon. Police expect charges to be filed against him Wednesday, unless the county attorney's office asks for an extension.

According to court records, the suspect was convicted in 2008 of first-degree assault with a knife. Two years later, he was convicted of third-degree sexual assault of a minor. He also was convicted of violating a domestic abuse restraining order.

Police released few new details Tuesday about the Dollar Tree shooting, but said it was an "isolated incident related to an earlier dispute."

The Hennepin County Medical Center identified the man fatally shot as Donald Hortsch, 69, of Rosemount. Hortsch died from a gunshot to the head at 4:17 p.m. at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. The surviving victim, who has yet to be identified, remains hospitalized, but his condition isn't known.

Police said Hortsch was a customer at the store and was unknown to the suspect. The second victim is believed to be an acquaintance of a store employee.

The incident unfolded about 12:15 p.m. Monday when gunfire broke out in the store in the 14000 block of Aldrich Avenue S., said Police Chief Eric Gieseke. The suspect was arrested a few blocks away, he said.

Police dispatch audio traffic indicated that one person was shot in the torso and the other was hit in the head.

On Monday, Gieseke called the incident "tragic and senseless." Dollar Tree employees said they were told not to talk about the shootings.

Gieseke said the call initially came in as an active-shooter situation. "Our officers trained for this type of scenario," the chief said, "but it was still very devastating and disturbing."

David Chanen • 612-673-4465