NEW ULM, MN – A deadly home invasion in southern Minnesota left two people dead early Sunday morning and sparked a multi-state manhunt that ended in Iowa after the prime suspect allegedly fired at police during a high-speed chase.
Authorities say Randy Zimmerman, 45, unlawfully entered the residence of his former girlfriend in Brown County around 4:20 a.m. on Sunday. The suspect is accused of shooting both his ex-girlfriend, a 32-year-old woman, and her new partner, 50-year-old Justin Reinert, a retired firefighter, in the home where multiple children were present.
Investigators report that the woman’s child, who was in the house at the time of the incident, managed to call 911 to alert authorities after the shooting. According to law enforcement, the young caller told the dispatcher that his mother’s ex-boyfriend had broken in and “shot his mom.” Emergency responders arrived to find both adult victims dead from shotgun wounds to the head in an upstairs bedroom. Spent shotgun shells were recovered at the scene.
Witness accounts detail a harrowing sequence of events. The child told police that he awoke to the sounds of shouting and violence. Zimmerman, armed with a shotgun, allegedly confronted the youth in the hallway, ordered him back into his room at gunpoint, and then proceeded with the fatal attack.
Zimmerman fled the residence in a Toyota Camry, prompting a 12-hour search spanning state lines. Authorities used automated license plate recognition technology, which flagged the suspect’s vehicle in Washington County, Iowa. Law enforcement agencies across several counties coordinated to intercept Zimmerman, ultimately locating him near the intersection of X43 and Highway 92.
When deputies attempted to stop him, Zimmerman reportedly accelerated, initiating a high-speed pursuit. During the chase, he is alleged to have fired a shotgun blast from his car window at pursuing officers, but no one was injured. The pursuit ended when officers used a tactical maneuver to disable his vehicle, forcing it into a ditch. Zimmerman attempted to flee on foot but was subdued with the aid of a Taser and taken into custody.
Following his arrest, Zimmerman was booked on multiple felony counts, including a murder warrant from Minnesota. He was held in the Louisa County Jail with a cash-only bond set at $5 million. Zimmerman has since waived his right to challenge extradition and will be returned to Minnesota to face prosecution.
Authorities disclosed that Zimmerman has an extensive criminal record that includes previous convictions for domestic assault, burglary, assault, and driving while intoxicated. Past records also indicate a prior arrest for stalking, though officials did not confirm whether this involved his ex-girlfriend.
Law enforcement officials in Iowa stated that additional charges related to the shooting at a deputy and fleeing police are expected to be filed. Multiple agencies continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the double homicide and subsequent pursuit.