LAKE CITY, MN – A business owner’s daily routine was shattered Wednesday afternoon when a long-simmering feud with a neighbor ended in gunfire inside his Subway restaurant, leaving him badly wounded in front of his family and employees.
Police said the man, who owns the sandwich shop located on the 1300 block of North Lakeshore Drive, sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen after shots erupted at around 1:30 p.m. The shop sits just off the Mississippi River in the heart of Lake City, roughly 70 miles south of Minneapolis.
Authorities have not identified the victim by name, but confirmed he was inside an apartment adjoining the Subway when the incident unfolded. According to witnesses and police reports, the man’s wife and children were there when the shooting happened, along with several workers who rushed to his side as he lay bleeding on the floor, pressing a towel to his wound.
In the moments following the shooting, Lake City officers arrived to find William Piar, 81, in his backyard behind the restaurant and nearby businesses. Piar reportedly ignored police commands to show his hands, keeping one hidden in his coat pocket despite repeated orders to surrender. Officers ultimately subdued him with bean bag rounds, after which Piar was taken into custody with an injury to his left hand.
With Piar detained and the area declared safe, officers turned their focus back to the wounded shop owner. He was transported to a local hospital with injuries described as life-threatening. The current condition of the victim has not been released by authorities.
Investigators revealed that the confrontation stemmed from a years-long property dispute between the two men. According to official documents, tensions had been escalating over time before culminating in Wednesday’s violent encounter.
Family members, including the victim’s wife and children, remained at the scene during and after the shooting, visibly shaken as police and medics worked to stabilize his injuries. Employees of the shop also assisted in the immediate aftermath, while customers inside the restaurant at the time were unharmed.
Law enforcement officials charged Piar with first-degree attempted murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree assault. He appeared in Goodhue County court on Friday, where bail was set at $2 million. He is scheduled to return to court next month.
Officials have not disclosed whether the shop owner’s condition has improved since the incident, but emphasized that his injuries were critical when he arrived at the hospital. The ongoing investigation is focused on the details of the dispute and the events that led to the shooting.
Authorities have called the situation deeply troubling for the Lake City community, as the victim was attacked in the very place where he worked alongside family, staff, and patrons every day.