U.S. Navy Capt. Ross Leuning of Owatonna, who on Monday was appointed as the new Freeborn County District Court judge, said he was shocked to hear the news that American soldiers had killed Osama bin Laden.

Leuning, who is currently deployed to a base in Iraq, said he and his fellow military friends in the service are sharing mixed emotions about the news.

“It’s certainly the big news without a doubt,” Leuning said. “My first response was absolutely stunned. This is stunning news. But the real response here and the collective response from everybody is heightened alert.

“We are in a combat zone, and we’re on heightened alert already. We’re taking significant security measures to make sure this base can stand a heightened alert. It’s a reminder we cannot be complacent — ever.”

He said he recognizes bin Laden’s death is a significant event in changing the ability of al-Qaida to operate.

“In my own opinion, I think this will fracture their power structure,” he said. “They’ll have a power struggle to see who is in charge.”

He noted that being part of the Navy, he and his comrades had an extra desire to see bin Laden caught because of the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Not to mention the 1998 embassy bombing and 9/11.

“He’s got a long history, and we’re glad that he’s finally stopped,” Leuning said.