After he was disciplined at work, a Burnsville man allegedly threatened to shoot up the firm and to kill a supervisor -- and later was seen hiding a gun in his car outside that business.

Dakota County authorities have charged Mitchell Lovejoy, 20, with terroristic threats, a felony. A complaint alleges that he often talked about guns and violence at his place of employment, Dianne's Custom Candles in Burnsville.

Lovejoy had been disciplined during his three months working there, including on Oct. 4, when he was suspended. As he was leaving the building, an employee heard Lovejoy say something like, "I'm gonna come back and shoot the place up" and that a supervisor would "be the first to go," according to a criminal complaint.

Another employee told police that on Oct. 6, he was with Lovejoy and they went to his car in the company parking lot. The employee noticed a black handgun in Lovejoy's car. Lovejoy quickly covered it with a towel, the employee said.

On Oct. 11, he quit, claiming that he had not been given a lunch break. The CEO contacted police the next day. Police interviewed Lovejoy, who denied the threats and that he owned or possessed a handgun.

JOY POWELL