Ravenna Township, Minnesota (trfnews.i234.me) — In a chilling domestic violence incident, 51-year-old Martin Frederick Branshaw of Hastings has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon following a harrowing standoff in Ravenna Township.
On May 20, deputies from the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance. The female victim had barricaded herself in an upstairs bedroom, stating that Branshaw was armed and threatening to kill her. She recounted that Branshaw had unlocked a gun safe, grabbed her by the hair, and pressed a pistol to her temple before pulling the trigger. Miraculously, the gun did not fire. “I shouldn’t be alive… if he had one in the gun, I’d be dead,” she told authorities.
Deputies used a ladder to rescue the woman through a second-story window. Branshaw remained inside, threatening to shoot. The South Metro SWAT team breached the home and found Branshaw with a self-inflicted neck wound. He was transported to a hospital, where he remains in custody.
A loaded HK. .45 caliber pistol and an additional magazine were found under a couch cushion in the home. Branshaw’s bail was set at $1 million with conditions, and a domestic abuse no-contact order was issued. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 12.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.