Woman found dead in Mendota Heights office, police searching for suspect

Update: 9 p.m. | 12:40 p.m.

Mendota Heights police say a woman was found dead inside a commercial building Saturday afternoon. They believe a man they'd been searching for Saturday afternoon killed the woman and has since fled the area.

Police chief Kelly McCarthy said the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is now involved in the investigation and search for the suspect.

"We've brought in the BCA and both Dakota County and BCA will be here, and we will take over the scene from there," said McCarthy. "However, we'll work this homicide."

The suburb's police department said it is searching for Lucifer Vincent Nguyen, 44. The police say Nguyen, 44, was last seen wearing a black T-shirt. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the sheriff's office at 651-322-2323.

The incident began earlier in the day when authorities were called about a robbery in Mendota Heights. The handgun-wielding suspect drove away but turned around when he saw police and ran his car into a swamp behind White Pine Senior Living.

Police earlier evacuated the assisted living center as they searched for the armed suspect. McCarthy said the facility is now clear and everyone is accounted for.

"It was really difficult, there's obviously a lot of moving pieces," said McCarthy. "Especially when you're looking at elder care residents... and you have a lot of people out here who are really hoping that we would find that suspect and take him into custody and it's a tragedy. It's demoralizing for everybody. But it has a tendency to steel the resolve of investigators to be able to find him."

The victim of the homicide has not been identified.

Mendakota Country Club reports it briefly closed as police searched the area. The club has since reopened.