CHARGES: Man Shot After Starting Apartment Fire to Halt Drug Sales
BY MN CRIME STAFF
An apartment building fire that heavily damaged a Minneapolis four-plex has led to a felony arson charge.
Authorities say the blaze was intentionally set with gasoline in an attempt to stop drug sales while people were inside.
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The fire was reported around 10:46 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in the 3200 block of Penn Avenue North, where officers were responding to a ShotSpotter activation as firefighters were simultaneously dispatched to a structure fire that had already engulfed the building.
Prosecutors charged Davon Maurice Jones, 33, of Mankato, by warrant with first-degree arson of a dwelling, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Court records show arriving officers and firefighters found the apartment building engulfed in flames. A resident told investigators he saw Jones pour gasoline inside the building, trail the fuel outside onto the steps and ignite it before running toward a truck.
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Authorities say Jones arrived a short time later at North Memorial Hospital suffering from several non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Officers who responded to the hospital reported he matched the suspect description and that his clothing smelled strongly of gasoline. Investigators also recovered a folded, torn piece of paper and two lighters from his pocket.
According to the criminal complaint, Jones admitted he intentionally set the fire. He told officers he entered through the front door carrying a gas can, poured gasoline on the floor and ignited it using a lit piece of paper. Investigators say Jones claimed he targeted the building because people living in one of the units had previously sold drugs to his son and pistol-whipped him. Jones said he lit the fire in an attempt to get the drug dealing to stop and that he was shot by someone from inside the building as he ran back to his truck after starting the fire.
Authorities said the apartment building contained two occupied apartments and two vacant units at the time of the fire. No injuries to the occupants of the apartment building were reported due to the blaze.
