A New Brighton man fired a handgun at an unmarked police vehicle during a road rage pursuit in Maplewood, with one bullet ricocheting off the squad’s hood and into the windshield as a police canine sat in the back, according to charges.
Dmonte Shavezz Leanna, 25, faces four felony charges: attempted murder in the second-degree with intent, first-degree assault for use of deadly force against a peace officer, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and assault of a public safety dog. The charges were filed Thursday, August 20 in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, the confrontation began around 8 p.m. on August 18 when a woman pulled her Chrysler Pacifica into a Walgreens parking lot in Maplewood. Leanna, driving a Buick LeSabre, pulled up next to her and yelled at her to move. Both vehicles left the lot and ended up on Larpenteur Avenue, where Leanna pointed a black handgun at the woman and yelled before driving away.
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The woman followed, telling Leanna she would call police and Leanna made a U-turn to follow her. Fearing for her safety, the woman ran a red light and tried to get the Buick’s license plate.
A sergeant in an unmarked squad with his canine partner nearby saw the Buick chasing the woman’s minivan at high speed on Rice Street. As the sergeant tried to follow, Leanna leaned out of the Buick, pointed a handgun at the squad and fired twice. One bullet struck the hood and ricocheted into the windshield, forcing the sergeant to duck behind the engine block. Leanna sped off, and the sergeant checked his canine partner, who was unharmed.
Deputies later recovered two 9mm casings from Rice Street and found the Buick abandoned near the McDonough Housing Complex. A black Nike shoe was found nearby, believed to have been lost by Leanna as he fled. Officers learned from a witness that the Buick’s driver may have gotten into a black sedan that left the area. A state trooper soon spotted a black Dodge Avenger leaving the area, and officers stopped it on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis.
Leanna’s mother was driving the Dodge Avenger, and Leanna was a passenger wearing a white tank top and no shoes. Officers found a black shirt and a lanyard with keys for the Buick inside the car. Leanna’s mother told investigators she found Leanna outside their home, appearing nervous and without shoes and agreed to give him a ride to a family friend’s house in Minneapolis. She said Leanna would not explain what had happened.
During booking, Leanna told a deputy, “My life is over.” He was brought to an interview room at the Law Enforcement Center.
Leanna was scheduled to appear in Ramsey County court on Friday, August 21.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s criminal-attempt statute, § 609.17, limits punishment for attempt to no more than half the maximum for the completed offense. Attempted second-degree murder carries up to 20 years in prison.
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Jurisdictional Context
Ramsey County encompasses Saint Paul and is served by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Felony cases are heard in the Second Judicial District at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown Saint Paul; the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.
