A man in Minneapolis handed a gun to another man and told him to “do something with it” before the second man pointed the weapon at two people outside a bar, according to the complaint.
Ethan Nathaniel Scarbrough faces two counts of aiding and abetting second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to charges filed October 21 in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers responded to a report of a person with a firearm at a location in Minneapolis at about 1:53 a.m. on August 12, 2026. Officers spoke with two adult male victims who said they were outside Frank and Andrea’s when their friend spoke disrespectfully to a woman. The woman threw lemonade at the friend, said she was going to get someone and went inside Frank and Andrea’s.
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The complaint states the woman returned with two men. The victims reported both men became verbally aggressive with them before leaving with the woman across the street to Uncommon Apartments. Shortly after, both men returned. The first man, described as shorter and wearing a grey shirt and dark pants, lifted his shirt to show the handle of a black handgun in his waistband.
The complaint says this man became increasingly aggressive before handing the firearm to the second man, who was taller and wearing a black button-up shirt and dark pants. The first man told the second, “Do something with it.” The second man then pointed the gun at both victims and cocked it. Both men then left and returned to Uncommon Apartments.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from Uncommon Apartments and saw a man matching the description of the first suspect running from Frank and Andrea’s, taking the elevator to the fifth floor and entering an apartment. The man was seen emerging shortly after, holding a firearm. Management identified this man as Ethan Nathaniel Scarbrough, who rented an apartment there at the time.
Officers obtained a search warrant for Scarbrough’s apartment. By August 27, he had moved to a different unit, where officers executed the warrant. Inside, they found two boxes for Glock handguns and a Glock firearm with a loaded magazine next to it. The firearm was next to a permit to carry in Scarbrough’s name.
The complaint notes that controlled substances were also found during the search, but those charges are filed separately.
Each count names a different victim, according to the complaint.
Related MN CRIME Coverage
Man Accused of Throwing Bloody Gauze at Officer in Minneapolis • Minneapolis Man Charged After Face Punches in Burglary • Minneapolis Woman Charged After Neck and Arm Stabbing
Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 44 other cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
