Man, 45, shot to death south of Albert Lea is ID'd; suspected shooter is on the run

A manhunt was underway Wednesday for a gunman authorities say killed a man in a home south of Albert Lea, Minn.

A call came into the Freeborn Sheriff's Office shortly after 3:20 p.m. Tuesday reporting the shooting in the 75400 block of 160th Street.

Freeborn County deputies and emergency medical responders provided first aid, but the man died at the scene, the Sheriff's Office said. He was identified late Wednesday morning as 45-year-old Juan Vasquez Jr. of Albert Lea.

Ben Vidal Moreno, 32, is the suspected gunman and remains at large, the Sheriff's Office added. He is believed to be driving a 2004 white Ford F-150 pickup.

Moreno and Vasquez "were known to each other, and they had issues between themselves," the Sheriff's Office said.

According to the Sheriff's Office:

Moreno was at the home when Vasquez and another man arrived in an SUV. Authorities say they believe Moreno shot at the truck as the two began to drive off. A wounded Vasquez got out of the SUV and walked back to the house.

The driver heard one more shot and drove off once he realized Vasquez was not returning to the SUV. Law enforcement soon showed up and located Vasquez at the home.

Moreno drove off in the Ford F-150 pickup truck, with Minnesota license plate EUZ057.

"Although we aren't certain that Moreno is armed, we are assuming that he is," the statement continued.

The Sheriff's Office said it does not believe Moreno is a threat to the public, but it cautioned that if anyone spots the pickup he was driving, "please call us immediately and don't approach the vehicle."

Tips about the shooting are being accepted by the Sheriff's Office at 1-507-377-5200, ext. 5, and at 911.

At the time of the shooting, Moreno was on probation for a felony threat of violence conviction in connection with him stabbing a woman in the wrist at an Albert Lea motel.

Albert Lea is about 100 miles south of Minneapolis.