(KSTP) – The University of Minnesota has given the “all clear” after saying a man specifically threatened to shoot people at the Twin Cities campus on Thursday.

The campus’ public safety department issued its first alert at 7:21 a.m. on Thursday, which said the threat was “specific” and was made by 41-year-old Joseph Mark Rongstad.

While the campus was still open after the threat, the public safety department had asked students and non-essential staff to stay clear of the area. Just after 1 p.m., the department gave the “all clear,” saying Rongstad was contained in Chippewa County and the campus could resume normal operations.

**ALL CLEAR** Final Update to threats to TC Campus. Chippewa County Sheriff has located the suspect and have him contained in their county. TC campus may resume normal operations. https://t.co/fJEQuH03No

— University of Minnesota (@UMNews) January 11, 2024

The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Reporter Kelsey Christensen on Thursday morning that Rongstad is believed to be at his home, which is located within the county. Authorities add law enforcement is staged there and are adding resources, although they hadn’t been able to get ahold of Rongstad earlier in the day.

Chippewa County authorities say the threat was made on social media, and Rongstad “started making lengthy posts” on Wednesday morning, but those posts turned threatening early on Thursday. One of the posts said he was headed to the U of M to “start killing kids” and went on to say, “it’s going to get bloody.”

Authorities add Rongstad is well known to law enforcement and has a criminal record.

Court records show multiple convictions against Rongstad, including felony burglary, as well as theft and DWI.

“There was a text saying that campus was still going to be open and everything, which I don’t really understand why if there’s a credible threat, they would keep it open,” Madison Urn, a student at the U of M, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

“Not too concerned anymore than I am in general that I go to a school in the United States, so kind of comes with the territory,” said Joshua Braverman, a staff member.

According to the alert, there are extra officers on campus with partner agencies, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will be investigating the threat, as well as the suspect’s home sheriff agency.

In addition, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office says a soft lockdown is in place at Montevideo public schools out of caution, stressing there is no threat to school. Authorities add all doors are locked with staff at the doors in those schools, and law enforcement is also staged at the school.

“We are deeply grateful to the many law enforcement partners who contributed to today’s investigation and continue to work this case, starting with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, which alerted us to this threat and is leading ongoing efforts to apprehend the suspect,” a spokesperson for the university said. “We also appreciate the support of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, State Patrol, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department, Minneapolis PD and Metro Transit Police. As always, we also owe heartfelt thanks to our UMPD and Department of Public Safety personnel, who quickly shifted plans this morning to support the needed efforts to monitor and secure our campus.”