Late Sunday night in southeast Rochester, a family dinner turned deadly and sent shockwaves through a usually quiet stretch of Marion Road. Police have since identified the suspect in the fatal shooting that left one man dead and led to another violent confrontation just minutes later.
Just after 9:30 p.m. on January 25, officers were called to the 1200 block of Marion Road SE on reports of gunfire. When first responders arrived, they found a man lying in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries later that night.
Police later identified the victim as 63‑year‑old Jeffrey Wayne Milbrandt. Friends and neighbors later described him as quiet and family‑oriented, making the sudden loss of his life all the more shocking to the community.
About five minutes after the first call, officers were sent to a home nearby on the 2700 block of Marion Road SE where someone reported that a man armed with a gun had forced his way inside. When they arrived, they found the homeowner wrestling with a man who was firing shots during the struggle. The homeowner and his family — including a young child — managed to get to safety.
The man in custody was identified as 35‑year‑old Michael Joseph Milbrandt of Rochester, who police say is the son of the shooting victim. Officers arrested him without further incident shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Court filings show Michael Milbrandt is now charged with second‑degree murder, first‑degree burglary, and two counts of attempted first‑degree murder for the violent sequence of events that night. A judge set his bail at $1 million, and he remains held in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center awaiting future hearings.
Police investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic or family dispute. According to interviews cited in court documents, Michael Milbrandt had been struggling with drug use, and his father had agreed to meet with him that evening to try and help. Neighbors say the argument was loud enough that some heard voices before the fatal shot was fired.
Rochester police have stressed there is no ongoing danger to the public. Community leaders and law enforcement continue to urge anyone with information to come forward as they piece together exactly what led to this heartbreaking night.
