MANKATO, Minn. — An 18 year old man is facing a murder charge after a fatal shooting in Mankato Saturday.
Court documents show the man is also charged with possessing a firearm without a serial number.
According to the criminal complaint, a male witness to the shooting called 911 from his home in Blue Earth County around 3:15 a.m. and said someone had been shot. Responding officers found a man dead in the passenger seat of a vehicle with an apparent gunshot wound.
The witness said he was driving the car at the time of the shooting, the complaint said. He and the victim had driven to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in Mankato for a cart deal. Police say carts are marijuana cartridges for e-cigarettes.
The man said he was parking on the street when the 18-year-old opened the rear passenger door, heard the victim say “why are you holding your hand, brother” and then heard a bang, the charges say.
The 18-year-old ran away and the male witness drove to his home and called 911. Investigators used GPS data from the witness’ phone to confirm the information he told police.
On surveillance images in the area of the shooting, two people reportedly walked to the witness’s car, which was parked near the 18-year-old’s home. The video shows one of the people walking along the passenger side of the vehicle, then both people running away a few seconds later.
Police spoke with one of the people walking to the car. That person said he walked to the vehicle with the 18-year-old. He was believed to be on the driver’s side when he heard a loud bang and then saw the 18-year-old running away.
According to the complaint, police then spoke with the 18-year-old at his home. He initially denied knowing anything was happening near his home, but reportedly admitted to shooting the man when confronted with information officers learned.
The 18-year-old said he planned to take the carts and sell them. He also told officers that when he entered the vehicle, he saw the victim’s hand moving and didn’t know what the victim was doing, so he shot him, the complaint said. The 18-year-old said he didn’t see a gun but assumed the victim had one.
According to court documents, the 18-year-old told officers the location where he hid the gun he used to shoot the victim. At the location, officers found a loaded .40-caliber handgun without a serial number.
Police say they also found a handgun in the center console of the vehicle.
WCCO personnel
