A Minneapolis man allegedly shot and killed another man during a sidewalk argument near Bryant Avenue South and West 22nd Street, then hid the gun in a bush as witnesses looked on, according to new criminal charges.
Danuell Lamont Love, 49, faces a charge of second-degree murder with intent, not premeditated, in connection with the shooting. The charge was filed Friday, September 4, in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, Minneapolis police responded to a shooting at about 9:30 p.m. on September 2 at the intersection of Bryant Avenue South and West 22nd Street. Officers arrived to find a group of people on the sidewalk, one of whom flagged them down. The victim, a man, was found on the ground with gunshot wounds to the head and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Witnesses told officers that Love and the victim had been arguing and fighting with each other before the shooting. One witness reported hearing the victim say, “I’ll take your gun from you and shoot you,” before going into a nearby Speedway. That witness then heard five to six gunshots and returned outside to see the victim on the ground. While speaking with officers, the witness saw Love emerge from a nearby yard and pointed him out to police, who took Love into custody at the scene.
A second witness told officers he heard Love threaten to shoot the victim during the argument. As the second witness walked away, he heard about six gunshots behind him. When he turned around, he saw Love walking southbound on the west sidewalk, then watched as Love took a black handgun from his waistband and tossed it into a bush.
Officers walked with the witness and recovered a black handgun from the bushes outside a nearby address. Investigators also found five spent cartridge casings on the ground about five to 10 feet from the victim’s body.
In a recorded statement after being advised of his rights, Love told officers he and the victim had argued about sharing food and liquor earlier that day. Love claimed the victim blocked his path on the sidewalk and threatened to kill him, leading to a physical fight. Love said he ran away to his apartment, then returned to the scene.
He admitted to having a gun, but gave conflicting accounts of where he got it, first saying he found it near a truck, then saying he took it from the victim’s backpack. Love admitted to shooting the victim and hiding the gun in the bushes. A court date has not yet been set.
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.
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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.
