OCSO called to misunderstanding at gun range

(ABC 6 News) – The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Salem Township gun range after a caller reported shots fired in their direction.

At about 2:34 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, the calling party was setting up trail cameras on a leased hunting property in the 8,000 block of 50th Street SW, Salem Township.

The caller heard raised voices and gunshots into the air 500-600 yards away, then thought they heard more gunshots aimed toward them.

The caller was wearing orange high-visibility clothing at the time, and left the area and called 9-1-1 to report the incident.

When sheriff’s deputies arrived at a home adjacent to the leased property, they also heard gunshots and saw several guns on the property.

The OCSO quickly determined that the property was a gun range where people had been shooting clay pigeons before hearing noises from the reporting party.

While some people from the gun range checked the hunting property for people, the caller had left to call for aid. Finding no one nearby, the group resumed shooting at clay pigeons.

It is legal to operate a gun range in that area, the OCSO said, and there were no reported injuries.

The OCSO said the gun range was surrounded by thick brush, which obscured each party’s view of the other.