Minneapolis Shooting Captured On Video Leads To Murder Charge
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A man is charged with second-degree murder after prosecutors say he shot and killed another man during a street confrontation in north Minneapolis last week.
Investigators say the shooting was captured on surveillance video and followed an earlier reported assault involving the victim and the shooter’s sister.
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Isaac Nathaniel Childress Jr., 40, of Crystal, is charged with second-degree murder with intent, not premeditated, for the Dec. 10 killing of Ty’wann Robinson. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Minneapolis police were dispatched around 9:26 p.m. to a ShotSpotter activation and multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire. Officers found Robinson lying on a sidewalk with life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was taken by ambulance to North Memorial Healthcare, where he later died.
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Investigators say Robinson had been walking with his girlfriend when they were approached by two people dressed in black. One fled on foot and the other drove away in a white SUV. Surveillance video from a nearby building later showed the encounter in detail, according to the complaint. The video depicts Robinson and his girlfriend walking northbound on Emerson Avenue North when a white SUV pulled up. The driver exited and began fighting Robinson. A passenger then approached during the altercation.
The complaint says Robinson stood up and appeared to run away before the passenger raised his arm and fired, with a visible muzzle flash captured on video. Robinson fell to the ground. The passenger then walked up to Robinson and fired at least one more shot while he was on the ground. Afterward, the driver returned to the SUV and drove away while the shooter ran from the scene on foot.
An autopsy later determined Robinson was shot five times, including in his arm, side and back.
License plate reader data led investigators to a white GMC Yukon seen in the area within minutes of the shooting. The vehicle was registered to a woman identified in the complaint as the mother of Childress and his brother. Investigators learned that Robinson and the girlfriend had an extensive domestic violence history and were subject to a domestic abuse no contact order.
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The girlfriend told police that earlier that night Robinson had assaulted and choked her. She said she called her mother to report what happened. Later, while walking with Robinson, she noticed her brother behind them and said a fight began. She told investigators that Childress was also present and that he shot Robinson. She denied calling her brothers to come to the scene.
Childress’ brother also spoke with investigators and said he and Childress left in the SUV after learning about the reported assault. He told police he saw Childress with a firearm and heard him say he was going to kill Robinson. The brother said he told Childress they were only going to fight and did not need a gun. He admitted getting out of the SUV and fighting Robinson and said he saw Childress shoot Robinson four or five times. After the shooting, the brother ran back to the SUV and drove away, leaving Childress behind.
Childress was taken into custody on Dec. 16 after investigators received information that he was prepared to turn himself in. After being advised of his rights, he agreed to speak with investigators. According to the complaint, Childress admitted going to the scene with his brother and admitted shooting Robinson, saying he was trying to protect his sister. He told investigators he blacked out during the shooting and could not recall how many times he fired. He also said he did not remember where he threw the gun.
Prosecutors note that Childress is prohibited from possessing firearms and has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for first-degree burglary in 2016, first-degree aggravated robbery in 2019 and simple robbery in 2020.
A judge ordered Childress held on $1,000,000 bail with conditions that include no contact with witnesses, no possession of weapons, remaining law abiding and making all court appearances. He remains in custody.
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