At around 9:30 PM on May 30, 2026, Officer Kotzer was near the intersection of Thomas Avenue and Grotto Street, St. Paul, Ramsey County when he saw a large crown outside Willard’s Liquor. Officer Kotzer heard gunfire as he was stopped at the intersection. Officer Kotzer called in the shooting and other officers responded. Officers found SJ [DOB REDACTED] on the ground on Grotto Street south of Edmund Avenue. SJ had a gunshot wound just below her left knee. It appeared that the gunshot was a through and through injury.
Officers applied a tourniquet to SJ’s leg. SJ said she was standing on Grotto Street talking with friends when shots rang out. SJ took cover behind a vehicle and discovered she had been shot. SJ did not see who shot her or from where the shots originated. Officers found RKS-J [DOB REDACTED] hopping on his leg saying he had been shot. RKS-J said he was talking to three women on Grotto Street when he heard “pops” and “bangs.” RKS-J said his leg buckled and he fell to the ground. Officers applied a tourniquet to RKS-J’s leg.
Officers found 11 spent 9mm shell casings and a single.40 caliber casing in the intersection of Charles Avenue and Grotto Street, St. Paul, Ramsey County. Bullets struck multiple vehicles in the area. National Integrated Ballistic Information Network analysis revealed an association between a 9mm casing involved in this shooting and two other Minneapolis shootings. Investigators learned that RAQUAN RAHJAE JOHNSON [DOB REDACTED] was in custody in Hennepin County being questioned about multiple shootings that occurred in Minneapolis.
Officers had executed a search warrant and recovered three firearms. Johnson had told investigators one of the recovered firearms may have been used in a Minneapolis murder. An investigator from St. Paul went over and joined in an interview between Johnson, a Minneapolis officer, and a BCA agent to discuss the May 30, 2026 shooting near Willard’s Liquor. Johnson said he was alone in a car in the area. Johnson said a group spotted his car when he was in the area. Johnson claimed that group shot at him, but they did not hit the car.
Johnson parked, got out on foot, and he fired a 9mm handgun. Johnson said he and the other group were in a dispute over old s***. When told he knew it was the other group’s territory, Johnson thought he would be okay in that location because he was raised in the area. Johnson was just trying to have a good time, but the others spotted him. When told two people had been shot from the rounds he fired, Johnson said, “From the 9?” When the investigator confirmed the people were shot with a 9mm handgun, Johnson said, “More charges.” Johnson said he didn’t want to speak to the St. Paul investigator any longer.
Johnson’s electronic home monitoring records indicate that he was at [ADDRESS REDACTED] at 9:30 PM on May 30, 2026. Johnson has a prior threats of violence conviction that makes him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition. Johnson is currently in custody in Hennepin County. Johnson is charged with murder in the second degree and drive-by shooting in ••-CR-••-••••.
