Man Charged with Murder in Saint Paul Drug-Deal Shooting
Police on scene of the fatal Monday night shooting. MN CRIME PHOTO
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A 29-year-old man is charged with murder after prosecutors say a drug deal in Saint Paul turned into a shooting that left another man dead.
The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, on the 100 block of Oneida Street in Saint Paul.
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On Friday, prosecutors charged Eithan Armani Green, of Minneapolis, with second-degree murder with intent and illegal possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were called after multiple people reported hearing gunshots and seeing a person run from a parked vehicle. Callers described a man with a thin build wearing a hooded sweatshirt running eastbound from the area as if he was carrying several items.
Officers arriving at the scene found a running 2017 Dodge Durango parked along the street with the driver’s door open and multiple bullet holes through the driver’s side window. Inside, they located 23-year-old David Lee Turner III of Saint Paul. slumped in the driver’s seat with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers removed Turner from the vehicle and attempted lifesaving measures including chest seals and CPR, though paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
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Investigators later determined the driver of the Durango had arrived at the location roughly 20 minutes before the shooting. Surveillance video captured a man in a blue SUV arriving and parking one vehicle length away. Both vehicles remained running and no one initially got out. A man wearing a tan or brown sweatshirt was later seen getting out of the SUV and entering the passenger side of the Durango. Moments later, muzzle flashes and smoke were visible inside the Durango as gunfire erupted, the court documents say.
After the shootifng stopped, video showed a man wearing a dark jacket and light-colored hoodie running from the rear passenger seat of the SUV to the Durango and rummaging through the vehicle. The man in the tan sweatshirt exited the Durango and returned to the SUV, which then drove eastbound, leaving the other man behind. Investigators said the man appeared to walk away carrying items.
Crime scene investigators recovered multiple spent shell casings inside and outside the Durango, along with cash and a cellphone believed to belong to Turner. Officers also found about 2.73 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle.
READ MORE > Saint Paul coverage
Investigators reviewed text messages between Turner and a phone number later linked to an associate of Green. The messages showed the two communicating about meeting in Saint Paul and referenced money and marijuana. Turner sent a message shortly before the shooting stating he was waiting in the Durango.
Video evidence showed the blue SUV traveling northbound on Interstate 35E shortly after the shooting and later heading toward Regions Hospital. Around 10:12 p.m., officers were dispatched to the hospital after Green arrived with gunshot wounds to his abdomen and leg. Hospital security video showed him entering the emergency room wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, green pants and tan boots. Investigators believe he was dropped off near the entrance outside camera range.
Cellphone data showed Green’s phone was in the area at the time the shooting occurred and later traveled toward the hospital before eventually pinging in Minneapolis.
Green agreed to speak with investigators while hospitalized and denied shooting anyone or possessing a gun. He told officers he had been intoxicated and could not remember what happened. He also denied knowing Turner or being connected to the shooting.
READ MORE > Ramsey County coverage
Investigators later arrested an associate who admitted driving Green to Saint Paul to purchase marijuana from Turner. The associate told investigators he gave Green money for the purchase and said Green was armed. He reported hearing gunfire shortly after Green entered the Durango and said Green ran back to the SUV stating he had shot Turner after Turner began shooting first. The associate said he drove Green to the hospital and later took possession of Green’s gun and phone.
Authorities later recovered a Taurus 9mm handgun, ammunition and additional evidence during a search of an apartment connected to the associate. Investigators said the associate told officers the handgun was the weapon Green used during the shooting.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined Turner died from multiple gunshot wounds, including eight gunshot wounds to the face, neck, chest and arm along with two graze wounds to the forearm and thumb. The death was ruled a homicide.
Court documents state Green has six prior felony convictions, including two first-degree aggravated robbery convictions, domestic assault convictions, an assault conviction and a controlled substance conviction. Those convictions prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Green faces up to 40 years in prison on the murder charge and up to 15 years on the firearm possession charge if convicted. Green was charged by warrant and arrested on Friday. An initial court appearance date has not yet been scheduled.
