On November 5, 2025, Minneapolis Police officers were dispatched to the area of 19th and Nicollet in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, on the report of shots fired. Shotspotter detected twelve gunshots in the area and multiple 911 callers reported the shooting as well. Officers responded and located eleven.45 caliber discharged cartridge casings in the alley between Nicollet and 1st Ave, just south of 19th Avenue. This area has extensive video surveillance with city operated cameras and business surveillance systems.
Officers located video footage of what transpired. On the video, three males are seen in the alleyway standing next to a silver sedan and a black sedan. One of the males was subsequently identified as DONTRIEL DAJUAN ROBINSON, DEFENDANT herein. The video captures Defendant reaching into his right jacket pocket and pulling out a black handgun. Defendant then shoots down the alley before jumping into the rear driver's seat of the silver sedan. The silver sedan then drove out of the alleyway. Officers were able to view the license plate of the vehicle and located it about an hour later in North Minneapolis.
Officers conducted surveillance on the vehicle and saw Defendant enter the front passenger seat of the vehicle and a woman entered the driver's seat. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. Defendant did not comply with officers commands and continued to put his hand on the gear shift as if he wanted to put the vehicle back in drive. He also reached in-between the center console and passenger seat and was removed from the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle for evidence of the shooting.
Under the seat where Defendant was seated, officers recovered a loaded.45 caliber Glock 21 firearm - the same caliber as the discharged cartridge casings. The driver of the vehicle was interviewed and stated that the gun in the vehicle belonged to Defendant. She recounted that she had been in the alley with Defendant earlier so Defendant could sell some weed. The driver told officers that while in that area, she heard gunshots and then Defendant got into her vehicle holding a gun. Defendant has two convictions for Aggravated Robbery in the First Degree from 2017 (27CR1722366 and 27CR1720312). He also has a juvenile adjudication for Aggravated Robbery in the First Degree from 2016 (27JV164479). Defendant also has a conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm from 2021 (27CR2011370). At the time of this offense, Defendant was out of custody on conditional release for pending domestic violence charges.
The State will seek an aggravated sentence in this case as the conduct is more serious than the typical Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm case in that Defendant discharged the firearm nearly a dozen times endangering other persons pursuant to State v. Fleming. Additionally, the State will seek an aggravated sentence pursuant to Minn. Stat. S 609.1095 upon the above listed convictions.
