STEWARTVILLE, Minn — A close-knit southern Minnesota community is reeling after a heartbreaking act of violence outside Stewartville High School early Friday morning left a teenage student-athlete critically injured and a former assistant wrestling coach dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the school’s parking lot around 5:00 a.m. after a 911 call reported a shooting. When authorities arrived, they found two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
Investigators identified the injured victim as a teenage male student-athlete who had been walking toward a bus as roughly 40 coaches and students prepared to depart for a wrestling tournament. He was rushed to a hospital and underwent emergency surgery. Officials said he remains in critical condition.
Nearby, deputies found an adult male deceased at the scene. Law enforcement later identified him as Logan Moyer, a former assistant wrestling coach within the school district. Authorities believe Moyer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a rifle was recovered in the vicinity.
Sheriff Kevin Torgerson said preliminary information indicates Moyer had previously been terminated from his coaching position. Investigators are now working to determine the nature of his relationship with the student and the circumstances that led to the shooting. Officials stressed that the investigation is ongoing and urged the public to refrain from speculation as facts are still being gathered.
Multiple reports suggest Moyer arrived at the school during the early morning hours while the team was boarding buses. After the student was shot, other coaches reportedly attempted to intervene. A second gunshot was later heard, believed by investigators to be when Moyer took his own life. These details have not yet been fully confirmed by authorities.
In the wake of the tragedy, Stewartville schools moved swiftly to prioritize student safety and emotional well-being. Students were reunited with their families, and classes were canceled for the day at both Stewartville High School and Stewartville Middle School. The district also announced the cancellation of a scheduled Friday night basketball game against Lourdes.
“This incident has impacted far more than just the individuals involved,” Sheriff Torgerson said during an emotional news briefing. “We ask the community to come together and support those who have been affected.”
Stewartville Superintendent Belinda Selfors echoed that message, confirming that counseling and mental health support services have been made available to students, staff, and families through the weekend and into the coming week.
“This is an incredibly difficult day for our community,” Selfors said. “In times like these, it is important that we come together to support one another. We also ask for patience and compassion as the investigation continues.”
Authorities emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the community and that the case remains under active investigation, including a review of the relationship between the suspect and the victim.
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