A Minneapolis man shot and killed another man during a confrontation at a security gate in broad daylight, then rifled through the victim’s clothing before fleeing the scene, according to newly filed charges.
Arnold Benedict Cole, 37, faces charges of 2nd-degree murder with intent and attempted aggravated robbery in connection with the fatal shooting on July 16 in Minneapolis.
Officers responded to a report of a shooting at about 2:36 p.m. on July 16, finding an unidentified adult male with a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police found a single spent cartridge casing near the victim’s feet.
READ MORE → Hennepin County coverage
Security footage reviewed by investigators showed the victim riding a bike toward a security gate, with a man in a green shirt and shorts, later identified as Cole, following closely behind. The video captured a brief interaction between the two before the victim was shot. After the shooting, Cole appeared to pat down the victim and dig through his clothing before leaving the area.
A witness told officers he saw two men arguing. According to the witness, one man was holding a black bag around his hand and demanded the other man hand over his keys and empty his pockets. The witness reported that the man with the bag then lifted it and shot the other man once before running away.
Officers located Cole in the area, matching the description provided by the witness and the security footage. During a show-up identification, the witness identified Cole as the shooter. Police later recovered a draw-string bag on the west side of Washington containing a gun. Investigators noted a hole in the bottom corner of the bag where the muzzle had been pointed.
Cole is charged with 2nd-degree murder for shooting the victim with intent to kill but without premeditation, and with attempted aggravated robbery for attempting to take property from the victim by force.
The charges were filed Friday, July 17, in Hennepin County District Court.
About This Charge
In Minnesota, homicide charges fall under three degrees: § 609.185 (first-degree murder), § 609.19 (second-degree murder) and § 609.195 (third-degree murder). First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence; second-degree convictions are presumptive 12 to 40 years; third-degree up to 25 years. The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission publishes guideline ranges that judges follow except where specific aggravating or mitigating factors are on the record.
Related MN CRIME Coverage
Arrest Warrant Issued After Minneapolis DUI Crash Kills Bicyclist • Bloomington Man’s Drunk U-Turn on I-494 Kills Driver • Minneapolis Man Killed 1, Wounded 2 in Drive-By Shooting
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.
