Windom Area Schools announced within the last 15 minutes that the soft lockdown for the district’s facilities was being lifted, and the rest of the school day would proceed as normal.
The school went into a soft lockdown this morning and police issued a public alert as they searched for a missing defendant, Ralph Apmann of Windom, in the second-degree murder trial that is occurring in Windom.
Apmann did not show up for his scheduled hearing this morning at 9 a.m. in the Cottonwood County Courthouse. Apmann’s defense attorney, Philip Elbert told District Court Judge Christina Wietzema that he called Apmann’s cell phone this morning and learned from the woman who answered that Apmann had left is phone at home, but that he was gone, as was his gun.
Apmann’s whereabouts are still unknown. However, there is no longer believed to be a threat to the Windom Area Schools campus.
Apmann does not have a car, so it is believed that he either left on foot, or received a ride.
Assistant Windom Police Chief Cory Hillesheim said police are advising people to avoid the north side of Windom and added, “We advise the public that if you see him (Apmann) do not approach, call 911.”
Further updates will be provided as they become available.
