On or about April 23, 2026, at approximately 9:48 P.M., officers responded to a shooting call at Hi-Lake Liquor on Lake Street East in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The reporting party, R. K. (“Victim” herein) told dispatch that he had been shot in the calf. Victim said he was bleeding heavily, and the shooting just occurred. Victim said the suspect walked away from the scene. Officers arrived on scene and did not initially locate Victim. Officers eventually located Victim outside of a nearby apartment complex on the 3000 block of 22nd Avenue.
Victim told officers he lives in that apartment complex. Officers observed two wounds on Victim’s calf, and it appeared as though a bullet may have grazed his leg. Victim was brought to the Hennepin County Medical Center (“HCMC” herein). During transport, Victim told officers that he knew the person who shot him. Victim said the shooter’s name was “Sam,” but he did not know “Sam’s” last name. Victim said he and “Sam” both live in the apartment complex on 22nd Avenue, and “Sam” lives on the third floor.
Victim said “Sam” is a black male, and he was wearing a black jacket and black pants at the time of the shooting. Officers went to Hi-Lake Liquor to review surveillance videos. The surveillance videos captured the shooting. The shooter appeared to be a black male wearing a black hoodie or jacket, gray sweatpants with black lettering on the side of the leg, and red shoes. The shooter can be seen walking away from the scene on Lake Street East. Officers canvassed the area and located a suspect matching the shooter’s description walking on Lake Street East towards 20th Avenue South.
Officers ordered the suspect to place his hands in the air and get on the ground. Officers approached and detained the suspect. Officers identified the suspect as SAMUEL JAMES JOHNSON, JR. (“Defendant” herein). Defendant told officers that he lives in apartment 3XX in the apartment complex on the 3000 block of 22nd Avenue. Defendant was wearing clothing that matched the clothing of the shooter seen on Hi-Lake surveillance videos. While officers handcuffed Defendant, other officers searched the surrounding area for any weapons.
Defendant spontaneously said to officers, “You’re not going to find it.” When officers asked what “it” was, Defendant became uncooperative and refused to answer. Officers searched Defendant and recovered an empty pistol holster from his front waistband. Officers later searched the area around Hi-Lake Liquor. Outside of Hi-Lake Liquor, officers recovered one discharged cartridge casing. Officers did not recover any weapons. Officers arrested Defendant and transported him to the Hennepin County jail.
Officers interviewed Victim at HCMC. Victim told officers that he and “Sam-O” had been friends for years, and they both live in the same apartment building. Victim described “Sam-O” as his “homie.” Victim told officers that he had sold marijuana to someone outside of Hi-Lake Liquor, and this made “Sam-O” mad because “Sam-O” thought that was his location to sell drugs. Victim said they argued about this, and “Sam- O” shot him in the leg. Officers showed Victim a photograph of Defendant, and Victim confirmed Defendant is “Sam-O.” In a post-Miranda interview, Defendant told officers that he had been walking home from work when he was arrested.
