Suspected shooter arrested after fatal Freeborn County shooting

UPDATE: The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office arrested the suspected shooter who shot and killed a man in Freeman Township Tuesday.

According to Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, detectives received information that 32-year-old Ben Moreno was hiding at a rural Forest City, Iowa home.

In coordination with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrested Moreno around1 a.m. Thursday morning without incident.

Multiple criminal charges are to come.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

UPDATE: The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim who was shot and killed Tuesday in Freeman Township.

The victim has been identified as 45-year-old Juan Vasquez Jr. of Albert Lea.

Authorities are still searching for the suspected shooter, 32-year-old Ben Moreno.

FREEMAN TOWNSHIP, Minn. (KTTC) – Authorities are searching for a shooting suspect after a man was shot and killed Tuesday in Freeman Township, just south Albert Lea.

The suspected shooter has been identified as 32-year-old Ben Moreno.

According to Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, at 3:22 p.m. the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a person who reported an adult male had been shot with a firearm.

Freeborn County deputies, Glenville first responders and Mayo Ambulance responded to the scene and gave first aid and performed CPR. Paramedics soon after pronounced the victim had died.

Authorities believe the victim, whose name will be released after the on scene investigation is completed, and another man arrived at the house in an SUV. Moreno was already at the house.

The victim and the other man who was with the victim, got back in their SUV and began to leave the house when the SUV was struck with multiple rounds from a firearm. The SUV stopped and the victim got out and walked back to the house.

The driver of the SUV heard one more shot and seeing that the victim was not returning to the SUV, he got back in and drove from the scene. Law enforcement made contact with that person not long after the shooting.

The victim was shot once in the upper right side of his chest.

Sheriff Freitag said it is believed it was an intentional shooting and that the suspected shooter and the victim knew each other.

Moreno got into a white 2004 Ford F150 with the license plate EUZ057 and drove away.

Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office said Moreno has been investigated for other gun incidents in the past.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting on scene and with the investigation.

Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office said this is the first homicide case of the year for Freeborn County.

There is no threat to the public.

Call the Freeborn County Law Enforcement Center if you see a vehicle that matches the pickup that Moreno was last seen driving, 2004 Ford F-150, license EUZ057. Call immediately and don’t approach the vehicle. The dispatch phone number is 507-377-5200 ext. 5 or 911.

This is a developing story.