The Freeborn County community is reeling after a violent and tragic incident on Wednesday evening left one man dead and several family members injured in a rural Alden home. The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday confirmed that Joshua Petersen, 45, was the man fatally shot during a domestic disturbance at the residence of his parents, Dave and Shari Petersen, located at 23480 630th Avenue.

Authorities say they responded to a 911 call just after 5:12 p.m. reporting a violent altercation that had escalated into a shooting. According to dispatch logs, a male suspect was allegedly assaulting others with a steel pipe inside the home, prompting a deadly confrontation. When deputies arrived, they found Joshua Petersen suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest.

Emergency responders immediately began life-saving measures, and Joshua was transported by Freeborn Ambulance to a nearby truck stop in Alden, where a Mayo Clinic helicopter met the ambulance and airlifted him to Rochester. Tragically, he was pronounced dead from his injuries shortly before 8 p.m.

The chaotic incident also left three other family members injured. Joshua’s parents, Dave Petersen, 71, and Shari Petersen, 69, were treated for blunt force injuries believed to have been caused during the assault. They were transported by ground ambulance to a local medical facility.

Jason Petersen, 47, another son present during the incident, also sustained injuries and received treatment. Two young children who were in the home at the time were unharmed and later released into the care of their mother.

Authorities detained Dave, Shari, and Jason Petersen for questioning following the incident but later released them as the investigation continued. Early reports suggest that the shooting may have been an act of self-defense in response to the violent assault.

Further complicating the situation, investigators revealed that Joshua Petersen was in violation of two active harassment restraining orders that prohibited him from being at his parents’ home or having any contact with them.

These orders stemmed from prior incidents involving threats and harassment. Additionally, Joshua had two outstanding arrest warrants for previous restraining order violations with his parents as the named victims. A separate restraining order preventing contact with his brother Jason had expired within the past year.

Authorities say that despite the violent nature of the incident, there is no ongoing threat to the public. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is assisting the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office with the ongoing investigation, which will include ballistics testing, interviews, and a full review of the events leading up to the shooting.

“This is a deeply tragic and complex situation for all involved,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family as they navigate the aftermath of this incident.”

The investigation remains active as authorities work to piece together the events that culminated in a family conflict turning deadly. More details are expected to be released as the case develops.