56-year-old Man Charged in Maplewood Apartment Killing
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A woman was fatally shot in a Maplewood apartment and a suspect has now been charged with second-degree murder after investigators say he also attempted to take his own life.
Court records show Joseph Raymond Wiggins Sr., 56, is charged with one count of second-degree murder with intent for the killing of 55-year-old Amy Doverspike.
According to the criminal complaint, police were sent to the apartment building at 2565 Ivy Avenue East at around 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday after reports of a shooting. Building staff told police they heard two gunshots, a pause and then a third gunshot. When officers entered the building, they reported smelling gunpowder and seeing smoke lingering in the air.
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Doverspike was found outside Apartment 109 lying in a pool of blood. Two spent shell casings were located on the ground near her body. Officers moved her to the lobby and attempted life-saving measures but she did not have a pulse. She had suffered two gunshot wounds, one to her upper right thigh and another to her left shoulder and back area. A bullet fragment was later recovered from the hallway near the apartment.
Building staff told police they had seen Wiggins enter the building and walk toward Doverspike’s apartment shortly before the shooting and believed he may still have been inside the unit. Staff said Wiggins and Doverspike had a child together who is currently incarcerated on a murder conviction. They also told police Wiggins was married to another woman but that relationship was ending. Staff reported Wiggins wanted to be with Doverspike but she did not want to be with him. Staff further told police Wiggins had threatened to kill himself the day before the shooting.
Wiggins’ current wife contacted police and reported that Wiggins had shot himself and another person. She later showed officers text messages Wiggins sent her while she was at work. In the messages, Wiggins expressed fear, stated that Doverspike was dead and described what he believed were fatal injuries to himself. When his wife told him she was at work with a student and contacting police to get him help, Wiggins blamed her for not intervening, said she could have prevented the incident and repeatedly stated he believed he was dying. He also sent her photographs showing a gunshot wound to his face.
Investigators learned Wiggins had posted two live videos on Facebook after the shooting. In the videos, Wiggins was seen on the floor wearing a black hat and a waffle-print camouflage shirt, the same clothing surveillance footage showed him wearing when he entered the building. His injuries appeared severe and made his speech difficult to understand, though investigators noted he appeared to be apologizing and complaining of pain.
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Police later obtained a search warrant for Apartment 109 and a SWAT team executed the entry. Wiggins was found inside lying on the floor in a pool of blood. A cellphone was located near his hands and a Smith and Wesson handgun was found near his feet. Officers recovered a spent casing from inside the apartment. An empty handgun holster was also found on Wiggins.
Investigators say Wiggins placed the handgun under his chin and pulled the trigger. The bullet exited through his left cheek and lodged in the apartment ceiling. Wiggins was taken to Regions Hospital in very critical condition. According to the complaint, he is expected to survive his injuries and did not suffer neurological damage, but is expected to remain hospitalized for a considerable length of time.
Doverspike’s children told police that she and Wiggins had an on-and-off relationship since they met. They said both began using methamphetamine after their son was sent to prison but that Doverspike had been trying to get clean, according to the documents. They told investigators Doverspike did not want to get back together with Wiggins and they were not aware of him being physically violent with her in the past.
A close friend of Doverspike told police that Wiggins didn’t live at the apartment and that Doverspike had clearly told both the friend and Wiggins that she didn’t want to reconcile with him or want him around. The friend said Doverspike wouldn’t let Wiggins into the apartment when he came by and said Wiggins was known to always carry a gun.
Investigators confirmed Wiggins had a valid permit to carry a firearm at the time of the shooting.
An autopsy conducted by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Doverspike died from multiple gunshot wounds and her death was ruled a homicide. The case is being prosecuted by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office following an investigation by the Maplewood Police Department.
Wiggins made his initial court appearance on Friday, Dec. 12, where a judge ordered him held on $2.5 million bail with no conditions.
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