Man Who Fired at Truck During Alleged Theft Pleads Guilty to Murder

May 26

A Richfield man has pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder after a confrontation last winter.

Luke Joshua Cain, 29, admitted to firing a gun at a pickup truck, striking and killing a woman inside.

Cain was charged with second-degree murder in connection to the December 6, 2024 shooting that occurred around 3:30 a.m. near 6200 5th Avenue South. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to cap the sentence at 128 months in prison, while Cain’s attorneys plan to seek a shorter sentence.

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According to the criminal complaint, Minneapolis police responded to a 911 call just before 4 a.m. that morning reporting a woman in a grey Ford F-150 who appeared to be shot. Officers located the truck near 4500 Hiawatha Avenue. The woman had been shot in the back of the head and later died at the hospital.

Police investigating a separate shots-fired call traced that report to Cain’s address in Richfield. Cain initially told officers he had confronted several people he believed were stealing from his van and claimed they fled in the Ford F-150. At that time, he denied having a gun or firing any shots.

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When interviewed again on December 18, Cain admitted he had a firearm during the confrontation and fired two rounds at the vehicle as it drove away. He said he later transported the gun to a cabin in Aitkin County to get rid of it. Cain also acknowledged the people he confronted had not threatened him and were not armed.

Investigators located items stolen from Cain’s van inside the pickup and obtained home surveillance video showing him yelling at the group and brandishing a gun. Additional video from nearby homes captured the truck speeding away from the scene.

Cell phone data from the victim's device placed her at Cain’s address around the time of the gunfire and then tracked her route to where the truck and her body were later found.

Cain posted a $100,000 bail last December which included conditions and supervision. Cain remains out of custody until sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 7.

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