A man was shot in the neck and mouth outside the Renaissance Festival late Wednesday, authorities said, and a suspect was caught at the scene.

The bloodshed occurred about 10:40 p.m. near the festival grounds, located south of Shakopee, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office.

The wounded man was taken by air ambulance to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and was reported to be in critical condition.

The suspect remained in police custody Thursday.

Festival marketing director Deb Schaber said the wounded man came onto the grounds through the Hwy. 41 entrance seeking help. She said authorities were then contacted.

"The shooting did not happen on the property," Schaber said. "As far as we know, neither [the victim nor the shooter] have anything to do with the Renaissance."

The Sheriff's Office did not say what led to the violence. Neither the victim nor the suspect has been identified.

There will be no disruption to the schedule for the festival, which opened Saturday and runs on weekends until Sept. 28.

Paul Walsh