19-year-old Charged After Robbery Shooting in Minneapolis
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A man is facing first-degree assault and aggravated robbery charges after a robbery near a Minneapolis apartment building.
The shooting left a victim with a gunshot wound to the back of the head and serious brain injuries.
The incident happened March 7 near the corner of East 15th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
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According to the criminal complaint, Minneapolis police responded to reports of a shooting and found an adult male lying on the front steps of an apartment building suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of his head. The victim was taken to a hospital where doctors discovered serious brain injuries. As of the time the complaint was written, he remained hospitalized in serious condition.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the area that showed a vehicle arriving and parking near the scene. Four people got out of the vehicle and gathered nearby.
Authorities say Ajay Joseph Meyer, 19, of Saint Paul, exited from the driver’s side rear passenger seat wearing a light-colored jacket and dark pants. Another male exited from the front passenger seat. A third male, identified by investigators as Meyer’s 17-year-old brother, exited the vehicle wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with a white logo running vertically along the back.
Roughly eight minutes later, a second vehicle pulled up next to the group’s vehicle. A male stepped out and was seen receiving an object from one of the group members that investigators say appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun.
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The group then walked toward the area where the victim was later found. Video shows the victim standing in the area wearing a long-sleeved sweatshirt before the group approached him.
According to the complaint, several members of the group placed their hands on the victim and began struggling with him. One of the males was seen striking the victim during the confrontation. At one point, another male walked away carrying the victim’s sweatshirt.
Seconds later, surveillance footage captured a single muzzle flash near the victim’s head. The victim collapsed to the ground as the remaining members of the group ran back to their vehicles and fled.
Police executed a search warrant March 13 at a residence in Inver Grove Heights where Meyer and another suspect were arrested. During the search, officers recovered a handgun and a 9-millimeter cartridge from inside the home.
Authorities say the firearm is being tested to determine whether it matches evidence recovered from the shooting scene.
Meyer is charged with first-degree assault causing great bodily harm and first-degree aggravated robbery. Court records show he remains in custody and is expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon. If convicted, Meyer faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge.
Minneapolis police responded to reports of a shooting and found an adult male lying on the front steps of an apartment building suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of his head.