Minnesota Man Charged In Gas Station Standoff

The Dakota County Attorney's office says one of the hostages was 31-year-old Ariel Luis Barnett's former girlfriend, who works at the store. Barnett is charged with second-degree assault and kidnapping.

According to the criminal complaint, Barnett entered the Burnsville gas station on Saturday armed with a sawed-off shotgun. He fired the gun into the ceiling and ordered his former girlfriend and a male employee to call police because he was taking them hostage.

Police surrounded the gas station. After a short standoff, an officer talked to Barnett on the phone and persuaded him to surrender. Neither employee was hurt.

Bail for Barnett was set at $250,000 without conditions. He remained in jail Tuesday.