No Prison Time for Teen Who Helped Set Up Deadly Robbery in Ramsey

Aug 31

A now 17-year-old from Saint Paul who admitted to his role in a deadly drug robbery in Ramsey earlier this year will avoid prison time.

On Thursday, a judge granted a downward dispositional departure and placed him on probation for seven years.

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D’andre Joseph-Luis Perales pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery and aiding an offender after the fact in connection to the March 2 killing of 18-year-old Diamond Eddie Manly, a Champlin Park High School student who had arranged a meetup to sell marijuana cartridges. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the more serious charge of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Police were called around 8:30 a.m. that day to the 8700 block of 146th Lane Northwest in Ramsey, where a maroon Buick was found idling in a front yard with Manly found dead inside. Manly had been shot in the head, with blood evidence suggesting his body had been moved post-injury. A spent bullet was found in his earpiece. No money or wallet was recovered, but an empty Lululemon bag was found on the body. Surveillance video captured the sound of a gunshot at 2:03 a.m., followed by shouting and banging, then someone yelling, “Hurry the f*** up, let’s go!”

Investigators determined that the victim had communicated with a Snapchat account run by a 14-year-old from Coon Rapids, who helped set up the deal. Authorities say the robbery was planned by a group of teens, including Perales, and that his role was to grab the cartridges while another teen carried out the shooting.

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Forensic data placed Perales at the scene. DNA matching Perales was found on an unfired bullet near the victim and on cartridges later recovered from Perales’ bedroom. Surveillance footage showed him wearing the same clothes he was later seen in during the getaway. Messages retrieved from his phone showed prior gang affiliations, pictures of firearms, and videos depicting him with cash and drugs .

Under the sentence handed down August 27, Perales was convicted on both felony counts and received two 48-month prison terms, to be served concurrently. Both sentences were stayed for seven years, meaning Perales will serve probation instead of going to prison—provided he complies with a long list of conditions, including immediate placement in a long-term juvenile program, no gang contact, no drugs or alcohol, and no contact with co-defendants other than his brother.

According to the signed plea petition, Perales acknowledged that the state had enough evidence for a jury to find him guilty, even though he entered his plea under the Alford doctrine while maintaining his innocence.

The court cases for the other three defendants remain ongoing.

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