WINONA, Minn. – Police arrested a 40-year-old man after gunshots were reported near the Watkins factory and headquarters block on East Third Street. Witnesses described the shooter, who police said they found in a nearby house on Fifth Street. Arrested was Jonathan Marquist Payton. He was taken to jail and booked on a dangerous weapons charge. Police had no idea what precipitated the gunshots. After the arrest the police issued an online message to assure the community there was no ongoing public danger. No one was injured by the gunshots. Police found two shell casings in the street. One bullet punctured a parked car. Police reported a handgun was in the house where Payton was arrested. The gunshots had been reported just after 9 a.m.
Payton. Arrested, no resistance.
A rap sheet that appears not to end
Payton is no stranger to police. In March 2023 Winona County deputies arrested Payton after a chase that began with his car stuck in a snowbank. Two Good Samaritans stopped to help, but Payton produced a gun and drove off in their pickup. The police chase ensued. Payton pleaded guilty in federal court and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Besides Winona, Payton has been in jail in Rochester and St. Cloud in Minnesota and in Vancouver in Washington and Portland in Oregon. He has lived off and on in Preston, Rochester and Winona. Arrests have been on charges of attempting murder, committing assault, possessing a weapon illegally, burglarizing a home, consuming meth, driving drunk, interfering with police, stalking police, fleeing police, and driving without a permit.