Man Charged After Shakopee Shooting Leaves Victim Critical
A 30-year-old man is facing attempted murder and first-degree assault charges after prosecutors say he shot another man inside a Shakopee townhome early Saturday.
Dejon Paul Brown, 30, is accused of shooting the 40-year-old victim multiple times, leaving him in critical condition, before fleeing and leading officers on a chase that ended in Mendota Heights later that evening.
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According to a criminal complaint, officers were sent to a home on Grove Drive around 3:13 a.m. Saturday after a man called 911 saying he had been shot and was dying. The 911 operator heard yelling in the background before another person, identified in the complaint as a woman at the scene, confirmed the victim had been hit.
Police went upstairs and found the man unresponsive with a resident holding pressure to a wound on his abdomen. According to the complaint, officers found gunshot wounds on his abdomen, back, hand, leg and right buttock. Six shell casings were recovered near a shattered sliding door riddled with bullet holes.
PREVIOUSLY: Shakopee PD Investigating After Man Found Shot Multiple Times
Investigators interviewed two people who were at the home, including a woman who initially said she did not see the shooting. At the police station, she told detectives she did witness it and identified the shooter as 30-year-old Dejon Paul Brown. She said Brown approached the victim “like he was mad at him,” pulled a gun and fired immediately. She said there was no argument and believed Brown had come upstairs intending to shoot.
The witness said Brown is in a relationship with a woman who had been at the residence shortly before the shooting and left with another woman. She told officers she believed the dispute stemmed from that relationship.
YouTube: Video of the police chase in Mendota Heights
According to the complaint, officers learned Brown and the woman left in her Honda CR-V. A ping warrant was obtained and investigators went to her Minneapolis residence. Around 7 p.m. the Honda was found parked behind the home. Hours later officers saw a silver Pontiac pull up, with the woman driving and Brown getting out to move bags between the vehicles. When officers boxed in the Pontiac, the woman reversed into a squad and sped away.
Later that night Richfield officers began pursuing the same Pontiac with three people inside, including Brown and the woman. Stop sticks were used and the vehicle crashed off Hwy. 13 in Mendota Heights. All three ran but were caught after a perimeter was set. A 9mm pistol was found along the exit ramp and another gun was located on the dashboard of the car. Officers also found cash, suspected narcotics and THC products in a bag in the front passenger area.
Brown complained of trouble breathing after the pursuit and was taken to Regions Hospital before being discharged and booked into the Scott County Jail.
On Sunday, investigators say he admitted being at the gathering but denied shooting the victim. He told officers he knew the victim through another man but claimed he didn’t know who was present. He then asked for a lawyer.
Prosecutors have charged Brown with attempted first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree assault causing great bodily harm. Both offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He remains in custody with cash bail set at $50,000 with conditions or $1 million with no conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
