St. Kate Security Guard Filed False Police Report after Shooting Self

The security guard alleged he was shot by a suspicious person in a wooded area on campus after he accidentally shot himself while handling his personal gun.

A security guard at Saint Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minn., has been arrested for reporting an active shooter on campus after accidentally shooting himself on duty Tuesday night.

Authorities say 25-year-old Brent Patrick Ahlers told police he made up the story of an active shooter for fear of losing his job after shooting himself in the shoulder while handling his personal gun, reports the Star Tribune.

Firearms are prohibited on the campus and security guards at Saint Catherine are not issued a weapon.

Ahlers told police he was confronted by a black male with a “short afro” in a navy blue sweatshirt and black jeans in a wooded area on campus, according to a police scanner recording.

Ahlers was charged with filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor, and was booked at the Ramsey County Jail. He was released on his own recognizance around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Saint Paul Sergeant Mike Ernster says 55 police officers, four K-9 units, and a State Patrol aircraft searched for the alleged suspect.

Police conducted a building-by-building search and advised campus residents to stay indoors as they searched for the shooter. The search was eventually called off at 2 a.m. on Wednesday and the campus was given the all clear.

“Last night I was talking to you about an incident that shocked the community,” Ernster said in a news conference Wednesday night. “It had basically 1,800 students held captive in their dorm rooms at St. Catherine’s, it had residents of the Mac-Groveland and Highland Park communities fearing they would be hurt in their homes.”

According to a statement from Saint Catherine University President Becky Roloff, Ahlers has been on the Saint Catherine Department of Public Safety for 15 months with no reports of misconduct prior to Tuesday’s incident.

On Thursday, Roloff released another statement saying Ahlers’ description of the alleged suspect is “deeply troubling and does not reflect our values” and the university “strongly condemns racial discrimination, racial stereotyping, and racial profiling of any kind.”

Ahlers has hired an attorney, according to TwinCities.com.

If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

About the Author

Contact:

Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.

Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.

Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century

This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Our Newsletters
Campus Safety Conference promo