On or about June 1, 2024, Minneapolis police officers were called to the area of 34th Avenue North between James Avenue North and Knox Avenue North in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Upon arrival, officers discovered the Victim, an adult male, lying on the ground next to his vehicle, on the passenger side, on the north side of 34th Avenue North. Victim had gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. He was transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Officers spoke with witnesses at the scene who reported hearing shots and seeing two men near Victim’s car.
The two men then fled northbound up the alley between Knox and James Avenues. One of the males was described as a black male, dressed in black with a black sweatshirt with a white emblem or lettering, who fled with a large duffel bag. The second male was wearing a red sweatshirt and witnesses reported seeing him in the passenger side of Victim’s vehicle before running north in the alley with the other male. Officers recovered a cell phone in the alley near [address omitted] North which was later identified as Victim’s cell phone.
Victim’s vehicle was searched and the officers recovered two discharged cartridge casings on the back seat, along with one of Victim’s shoes on the floor of the driver’s side. Victim’s other shoe was on the ground outside the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver’s side window was down. The vehicle was also processed for prints and DNA. A fingerprint was lifted from the passenger front door area. The print was a match to DONNELL ODELL JONES, [DOB redacted], Defendant herein. Victim’s cell phone was examined and officers discovered communication between Victim’s phone and another phone number, later identified as belonging to an adult male, L. T., within minutes of the shooting.
A text string begins at approximately 10:54 A.M. With a request from Victim’s phone number to purchase marijuana. At 11:08 A.M., a meeting is set for 35th and Knox. At 11:22 A.M., Victim texted that he had arrived at the location. At 11:23:28 A.M., L. T.’s phone number responded that he was there. The shooting occurs approximately seven minutes later. An autopsy revealed Victim suffered two gunshot wounds to his abdomen, including one that entered right abdomen area that exited his left chest area, causing damage from the round to the ribs, liver, kidney, diaphragm and intestines.
Victim suffered massive bleeding in chest cavity. A second gunshot entered his right abdomen area and exited his left lower back area causing damage from the round to the abdominal aorta. Victim also suffered two additional gunshot wounds, one to his right upper arm and one to the outside of his right thigh near his hip. On July 29, 2024, Defendant was arrested for possessing a firearm with an altered serial number as well as Second Degree Drug Possession. On August 10, 2024, the firearm used in the shooting was recovered in a traffic stop.
