A Minneapolis man pulled a rifle from under his sweatshirt and pointed it at the victim during a robbery attempt in a north Minneapolis parking lot, prompting a struggle that ended with gunfire and the victim wounded.
Rashawn Deandre Coleman Jr., faces charges of aiding and abetting 1st-degree aggravated robbery and 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to a complaint filed Monday, July 13, in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, the victim arrived at the 1400 block of Plymouth Avenue North on June 21 to meet three people later identified as Coleman, Tyreek Taeshaun Dewayne Hall and Jakai Teajai Rice. The victim told officers that while he was meeting with the group, all three reached into his vehicle in an attempt to take his firearm.
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The victim accelerated away, but his phone was taken and multiple shots were fired at his vehicle as he fled. The victim was struck in the right upper arm and later sought treatment at North Memorial Health Hospital.
A concerned citizen contacted police the next day, reporting that a nearby resident had surveillance footage of the shooting. Investigators reviewed the video, which showed the victim’s white Dodge Challenger backing into the parking lot at about 5:34 p.m. Hall and Coleman exited a building, with Coleman appearing to conceal an object under his sweatshirt.
Rice stood near the entrance before joining the others. The video shows Coleman removing a black rifle from beneath his clothing and Hall drawing a handgun. Both pointed their firearms at the victim, and all three reached through the driver’s window, leading to a struggle.
As the victim drove away, Coleman, Hall and Rice were seen pointing firearms at the fleeing vehicle. Coleman and Hall appeared to fire multiple rounds, and Rice turned and fired additional shots as the vehicle left. The victim’s vehicle was struck by at least one bullet near the rear driver’s side.
On June 24, officers executed a search warrant at a residence on the same block. A resident told officers she had been sleeping when she heard gunshots and awoke to find all three defendants entering her apartment. She identified Coleman as the person carrying the rifle and wearing black clothing with white shoes. During the search, officers recovered a black iPhone, a black extended handgun magazine, a box of .223 caliber ammunition, a live 9mm cartridge and a black sweatshirt.
A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota distinguishes simple robbery (§ 609.24, up to 10 years) from aggravated robbery (§ 609.245), where a weapon or great bodily harm is alleged. First-degree aggravated robbery carries up to 20 years; second-degree up to 15. Carjacking is charged under § 609.247.
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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.
