BEMIDJI — Authorities said the man shot dead at a northern Minnesota restaurant used to work there and was killed in a fight.

The Beltrami County sheriff’s office was called at 10 a.m. Saturday to Mi Rancho, a restaurant on the north side of Bemidji. Witnesses said the restaurant was not open yet for business, but several employees were there preparing for the lunch crowd.

Authorities said a former employee forced his way through the back door of the business and started an altercation with several employees. The altercation ended with the former employee being shot to death.

Police took the suspect into custody. The victim’s name will not be released until authorities contact relatives who live in Mexico.

A decision on whether to charge the suspect has not been made yet.