INTERNATIONAL FALLS  — A northern Minnesota man died after authorities said he refused to leave a burning convenience store that they believe he entered illegally.

The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that authorities responded to a report of a break-in late Wednesday at the Y Knot Quick Stop gas station at Pelland Junction, southwest of International Falls. Sheriff’s officials say Colton Tammi, 26, of International Falls, was inside and allegedly told dispatchers by phone that he would shoot responding officers.

Authorities said the store began burning after deputies surrounded it.

Sheriff Perryn Hedlund said firefighters could not enter due to the threat of gunfire.

“At that point we couldn’t guarantee the safety of our guys or the safety of (the firefighters), so there was no way they were going to go in to try to fight a fire with a possible gunman in the building,” Hedlund said.