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Mark Zdechlik
Cottonwood, Minn.

Lyon County official says man admits shooting pipeline, causing diesel spill

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Officials say a man has admitted to firing shots at a pipeline that ruptured in southwestern Minnesota Wednesday spilling thousands of gallons of diesel fuel into a drainage ditch.

Lyon County Attorney Rick Maes said the 20-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, told investigators he was shooting a gun in the area near Cottonwood and after one of his shots ricocheted off some water, he repeatedly fired in the direction of the pipeline.

"The male admitted that after that ricocheted that he ended up shooting four more times into the pipe or at the pipe," Maes said. "I know at least one of those shots penetrated."

Officials with the pipeline's operator, Magellan Midstream Partners, said a small hole was discovered in an 8-inch pipe around 8:30 p.m. Bruce Heine, vice president of government and media affairs for Magellan, said the leak was stopped about two hours later.

Maes said more than 200 barrels spilled out from the damaged pipeline, which is more than 8,000 gallons. Maes added the shooter is cooperating with the investigation and might be charged next week with criminal damage to property and other charges.

"I think the bigger of that is the restitution piece. This is going to involve expensive cleanup and repair. It could be hundreds of thousands of dollars," he said.

Maes said the shooting does not appear to be related to any protest of pipelines.