By Nathan Daggett / Assistant News Director

St. Cloud Police were called to the Crossroads Center after three men were allegedly involved in stealing an item from a store and assaulting an employee on Wednesday. 

Officers responded to call just after 11:30 a.m. when the suspects fled the area after punching an employee who tried to a take picture of the alleged thief.

Just before 12 p.m. a Stearns County Deputy detained a man matching the suspect description in the 10 Block of Waite Avenue in Waite Park.  Officers learned that the man had a felony warrant for a felon in possession of a firearm violation. 

Officers lost sight of the man after he fled on foot during the attempt to arrest him.  A perimeter was set up and a K9 was used to track the suspect. 

Later, at 12:50 p.m. the K9 led officers toward a shed behind a residence in the 10 Block of Cherry Street in Waite Park.  

When officers approached the shed, they heard a gunshot come from inside. Officers found the lone suspect with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

The suspect was taken to St. Cloud Hospital by Mayo Ambulance where he later died. 

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man as 19-year-old Noah Johnson from St. Cloud.