A Minneapolis man opened fire on a group gathered in a garage before fleeing the scene with others in a black Infiniti sedan, leaving one man with multiple gunshot wounds.
Fidel Hernandez Jr., 20, faces charges of attempted 2nd-degree murder and drive-by shooting toward a person, according to a complaint filed Wednesday, June 17 in Hennepin County District Court.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on May 16, Minneapolis police on patrol near 33rd Street East and Park Avenue South heard gunshots and received a ShotSpotter alert. Officers responded to a report of a shooting at a nearby address and found the victim with at least two gunshot wounds to the chest. The victim was transported to the hospital after officers provided emergency aid.
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Witnesses told police they were in the garage with the victim when a suspect armed with a handgun appeared outside. One witness said he saw the suspect after opening the garage door, while another described seeing multiple suspects approach and hearing someone shout, “Stop, we’re going to kill you.” That witness ran and hid under a car as gunfire erupted.
Investigators recovered discharged cartridge casings between the house and garage, live rounds and a handgun magazine near the curb and additional casings in the alley. Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed a black Infiniti sedan parking just minutes before the shooting.
Four males, including Hernandez, exited the vehicle and three were seen holding handguns and pointing them at a street sign with laser sights activated. A female driver, later identified as a co-defendant, filmed the group and posed with firearms before returning to the driver’s seat.
Moments before the shooting, the co-defendant was heard on video saying, “Babe, this guy just showed me his d***. The guy in the alley.” The group then ran toward the victim’s residence. A voice was heard saying, “pop his a**!” followed by six gunshots. The group fled to the Infiniti, which drove away, but returned about a minute later, when 10 more shots were fired.
Officers nearby saw a vehicle parked in front of the victim’s location and several people running toward it. The co-defendant drove the Infiniti toward the squad car, and when officers tried to stop it, fled, leading police on a short chase. The driver crashed the Infiniti into a marked squad car a few blocks away, and all occupants, including Hernandez, ran from the scene.
Inside the Infiniti, police found a loaded Glock pistol with an auto-sear, cartridge casings, a magazine and documents belonging to the co-defendant. Location data from the co-defendant’s phone placed her at the scene during the shooting. The Infiniti was registered to Hernandez. Investigators believe he has fled the state and is attempting to reach Mexico with family.
About This Charge
Attempted 2nd-degree murder in Minnesota is charged under § 609.17 in combination with § 609.19. The attempt statute applies when a person acts with intent to cause another’s death but no death results. The maximum penalty for an attempt is half the maximum for the completed offense, so attempted 2nd-degree murder caps at about 20 years in prison. Aiding-and-abetting liability under § 609.05 allows charging a person who intentionally helped another commit the offense with the same charge as the principal.
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Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
