Police accuse couple of involvement in St. Paul shooting

After a 24-year-old man was fatally shot in St. Paul, police have been looking for clues as to who was involved. Now, nearly three months after the alleged homicide, police have charged a couple for their supposed involvement in this violent crime. The 22-year-old man was recently arrested in a Bloomington hotel room. It is unclear when the 19-year-old woman was arrested, but both were charged earlier this week.

A witness claims he saw the young man across the street open fire on his friend, fatally injuring him. According to the Pioneer Press, the witness said that he had seen the 22-year-old in a black and silver Dodge Magnum earlier that day and there was a similar looking Magnum in the area at the time of the shooting. While the witness said he made the connection between the suspect and the car that was nearby at the time of the shooting, the shooter did not attempt to escape by car, which may cast doubt on the witness’s identification of the suspect as the shooter.

The woman was arrested after police used the city’s surveillance camera to track the Magnum’s movements across the city. The video captured the woman exiting the car and heading into a residence on Conway Street prior to the shooting. Police claim that the woman provided inaccurate or misleading information. Officers allege she intentionally obstructed the homicide investigation. Police eventually charged her with aiding an offender.

After officers brought the man in, he was charged with intentional second-degree murder. Both the boyfriend and girlfriend were charged in Ramsey County District Court.

Source: Pioneer Press, “Former Inver Grove Heights couple charged in fatal St. Paul shooting,” Emily Gurnon, Dec. 13, 2011

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

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.