UPDATE: Suspect in U of M threat surrenders after standoff in Watson

Joseph Mark Rongstad threats 011124 005.jpg — A SWAT vehicle sits Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, outside the Watson home of a man suspected in an alleged threat to shoot persons on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota.

By Tom Cherveny and Susan Lunneborg

January 11, 2024 at 4:02 PM

WATSON, Minn. 鈥� The Watson man alleged to have posted an online threat against the University of Minnesota early Thursday has been taken into custody.

Joseph Mark Rongstad, 41, could be seen giving himself up to law enforcement officers who had been surrounding his home for hours. Watson is a town of under 200 people about 40 miles west of Willmar.

Joseph Mark Rongstad threats 011124 006.jpg — Law enforcement block off roadways surrounding the home of Joseph Mark Rongstad during a police stand-off in Watson on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.

The University of Minnesota put the Twin Cities campus on an emergency alert early Thursday morning, saying Rongtad had posted a threat on social media to shoot people on the campus.

The alert was canceled around 1 p.m. Thursday when the university announced that the Chippewa County Sheriff鈥檚 Office had the suspect 鈥渃ontained in their county.鈥�

Jan 11, 2024
Jan 11, 2024
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West Central Tribune staff members reported a heavy police presence in Watson on Thursday afternoon, and officers could be heard on a loudspeaker trying to persuade Rongstad to leave his house.

Joseph Mark Rongstad threats 011124 008.jpg — Law enforcement block off roadways surrounding the home of a threat suspect in Watson on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.

Among the responding agencies were the Chippewa County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Montevideo Fire Department and the state Department of Transportation.

By Tom Cherveny

Tom Cherveny is a regional and outdoors reporter for the West Central Tribune.
He has been a reporter with the West Central Tribune since 1993.

Cherveny can be reached via email at tcherveny@wctrib.com or by phone at