$30 Dispute Led to Deadly Shooting in Minneapolis Apartment

Nov 8

A man is charged with second-degree murder after police say he fatally shot a woman inside his Minneapolis apartment following an argument over $30.

According to the criminal complaint, officers were called to the 2600 block of West Broadway Avenue on Nov. 5 and found a woman dead inside an apartment.

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She was lying between a couch and a table with an apparent gunshot wound to her chest or abdomen. A folding knife was found in her hand, and two other knives were recovered nearby. Police also seized a silver handgun found inside a black sock.

The resident, identified as 65-year-old Raymond Lewis Jones, told investigators he had met the woman earlier that day near East Franklin Avenue and brought her back to his apartment. He said he paid her $30 for sex but claimed she took the money and tried to leave. Jones said he blocked the door to keep her from leaving, saying she had “his $30.”

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Jones told officers the woman pulled a knife and that he grabbed two of his own knives during the confrontation. He admitted to later pulling the trigger of his .45-caliber handgun but claimed it happened during a struggle as she held the weapon. Police noted that Jones had no visible injuries and showed no signs of having been attacked.

PREVIOUSLY: Police Arrest 65-year-old After Deadly Shooting In Minneapolis

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. Jones was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder — one alleging intent to kill without premeditation and another alleging the killing occurred during the commission of a felony assault with a firearm. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

A Hennepin County judge ordered Jones held in custody on $1 million bail with conditions including random testing, no possession of firearms and remain law abiding.

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