Updated at: 08/03/2010 2:27 PM | KSAX.com
By: Megan Brown

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71-Year-Old who Shot Man had "History of Mental Health Problems"

VALLERS TOWNSHIP, Minn. - The 71-year-old man who was arrested Thursday evening after he allegedly shot a 32-year-old and then set his own house on fire has been identified and is said to have a history of mental health problems.

According to the Lyon County Attorney's Office Donald Lowe had shot Tony Erikson, an employee with the Western Mental Health Center who was at Lowe's Vallers Township home for a scheduled visit. Authorities say Lowe shot the 32-year-old, set his own house on fire, and then left Erikson in his basement.

"Something set Mr. Lowe off," Lyon County Attorney Richard Maes explained. "Mr. Erikson ended up getting shot."

Authorities say the incident all began when the two men were in front of Lowe's home working on a lawn mower. Somehow Erikson got sprayed in the face by gasoline. After Erikson cleaned up Lowe told him to put a wrench away in the basement, that's where the incident began.

"When he was coming to the top of the steps, Mr. Lowe was standing there with a 22 pointed at him, and he fired off two rounds." Maes continued.

"He actually according to the reports, watched the liquid rolling down the steps, with the fire being ignited right behind it and kind of following it down the steps to the basement." Maes said.

According to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, authorities were dispatched to the 3800 block of 230 Avenue in Vallers Township near Marshall around 3:30 Thursday afternoon.

The victim had called 911 reporting he was shot and that Lowe's home was on fire. When officers arrived on scene, they arrested Lowe at the end of his driveway.

The Lyon County Sheriff's Office said actual fire damage to the home was minimal however the victim was pulled from the smoke filled basement by deputies. He was then airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale with a gunshot wound injury.

Erikson is now at home recovering.

Lowe made his first court debut on August 2nd. He is due in court again on August 17th.

Lowe is being charged with Attempted Murder in the first and second degree, assault in the second degree and arson in the first degree.

He is currently being held in the Lyon County Jail.

Written for the web by Megan Brown and Tony Seeman

mbrown@ksax.com