Armed robbery suspect found dead after shootout along Minnesota River

A suspect in an armed robbery in Mankato on Saturday was found dead after a shootout with law enforcement officers along the Minnesota River.

The male suspect reportedly was in a raft on the river when he fired at responding officers, who returned fire. The individual was later pulled from the river, and pronounced dead — though authorities did not immediately release the cause of death.

According to a news release from the city of Mankato, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery just after noon along U.S. Highway 169, north of U.S. Highway 14. The Mankato Free Press, citing scanner traffic, reported the robbery happened at a gas station.

"The male suspect headed east on foot and crossed the highway toward the river. A search was conducted, and a suspect matching the description was located in a raft," the news release said. "The suspect fired several times at law enforcement, and at some point licensed peace officers returned fire."

Officers from a number of other agencies responded to the scene before the individual was found dead. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating; no further details were available as of Saturday night.

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