Man charged in Minneapolis’s first apparent homicide of 2012

A witness has told police that while he and three other men were smoking methamphetamine earlier this month, one man pulled out a gun and shot another man and shot at the third individual before fleeing to another hotel. Police subsequently arrested a 33-year-old man and have charged him with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder after the individual who had been shot died. If the 33-year-old receives a felony conviction, he could be facing considerable time in prison.

Felony crimes are extremely serious and being classified as convicted felon will follow you around well after you get out of prison. Whether it affects your ability to find a job, a place to live or who is willing to associate with you, a criminal record will affect you for the rest of your life. Because being convicted of a felony can have such serious ramifications, it is crucial that anyone accused of a felony contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

The 33-year-old that has been charged with murder seems to have become the focus of police attention after a room of meth-influenced witnesses claimed he was the one that shot another drug user. It is unknown, however, if police have any other evidence from possibly more credible witnesses that link this man to the incident. Although the suspect allegedly told police that he shot at the two men, it is unknown under what conditions the man was interrogated and whether he really knew his right to silence before he waived it.

According to the compliant, the suspect shot at the two men after they were talking about things that made him nervous.

The Pioneer Press reports that this incident is the first homicide in Minneapolis this year.

Source: Pioneer Press, “Man charged in shooting death at Minneapolis hotel,” Brady Gervais, Feb. 14, 2012

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

A Santa Clara University study shows that over one million people in Minnesota have criminal records. In Minneapolis alone, 5,713 crimes are reported annually within an area of 100,000 residents. These criminal cases require the defendants to present evidence challenging the prosecutor's narrative. So, when does the defense present evidence in a criminal case? Your defense team presents evidence at the trial phase right after the prosecution team completes outlining the facts it intends to prove and how its evidence will prove you guilty.
Media attention and public scrutiny after conviction can hurt your personal and professional reputation, especially if your criminal case is high-profile. One of the questions you may ask is: How do I handle media attention and public scrutiny after conviction in Minnesota? You can do that by familiarizing yourself with your rights, having a witness present during a media interview, minimizing media consumption, and taking a break from social media. Building a strong support system and working closely with a criminal defense lawyer can help you handle or minimize the impact of public scrutiny.
The timeline for filing pre-trial motions in a criminal case in Minnesota varies with the type of motion. A motion related to the discovery of evidence or dismissal of a criminal case must be filed at least three days before the Omnibus Hearing. The prosecution is then allowed to respond to the motions, and the court sets the timeline for these responses.