Suspect in Minneapolis Quadruple Homicide Arrested by U.S. Marshals

May 2

A Minneapolis man wanted in connection with a deadly mass shooting earlier this week was arrested Thursday by federal authorities.

James Duane Ortley, 34, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals NorthStar Fugitive Task Force with assistance from the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office SWAT team around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, on the 1600 block of South 4th Street in Minneapolis.

Ortley was wanted on a Hennepin County warrant charging him with multiple counts of second-degree murder. He was also the subject of a federal warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In total, Ortley is now charged with six felonies: three counts of second-degree murder with intent, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of unlawful firearm possession. Each homicide charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.

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The gunfire broke out around 11:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 1500 block of East 25th Street, where officers found five victims inside or near a vehicle, all suffering gunshot wounds to the head.

PREVIOUSLY: 3 Dead, 2 Hurt in Minneapolis Mass Shooting

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed during a Thursday press conference that Ortley is believed to have been involved in the incident, which he described as the city’s most violent of the year. O’Hara also confirmed that a 28-year-old man, previously in “grave” condition, died at the hospital shortly after the arrest. Ortley’s charges are expected to be amended.

*The scene where five people were shot in Minneapolis Tuesday evening.* ***MN CRIME PHOTO***

One of the victims killed in the shooting has been identified by school officials as 17-year-old Joey Goodwin, a student at Augsburg Fairview Academy. In a statement, the school’s executive director, Heidi Anderson, described Goodwin as a “bright, creative, and kind-hearted young man” with deep ties to the school community. She noted that he had recently developed an interest in knitting and that classmates would be completing a scarf in his memory to give to his family.

According to the criminal complaint, one of the surviving victims told police that a man they knew as “Baby J” or “Little James” was inside the vehicle with them and opened fire from the rear passenger seat before fleeing on foot. The victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the face, later identified Ortley by photograph as the shooter.

Investigators noted that Ortley and some family members are associated with the Native Mob, a street gang known to operate in South Minneapolis and other areas of the state.

Surveillance footage from the area also reportedly captured the shooting, showing a single suspect matching Ortley’s description fleeing the vehicle just before officers arrived.

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Ortley remains in custody at the Hennepin County Jail with bail set at $2 million. Minneapolis police said they believe additional individuals may have been involved in Tuesday night’s shooting or may possess key information related to it. Authorities emphasized that Ortley is not believed to be connected to other homicides that occurred in the city Wednesday.

In response to the surge in violence, Minneapolis police, along with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Transit Police, have deployed additional patrols and specialized units in affected neighborhoods.

Mayor Jacob Frey called Ortley’s arrest a “major step forward” in the investigation and issued a warning to others who may seek to commit violence. “This will not be tolerated in our city,” Frey said.

PREVIOULSY: Wave of Violence Grips Minneapolis; 5 Shot Dead

The NorthStar Fugitive Task Force is led by the U.S. Marshals Service District of Minnesota and includes officers from the Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin and Ramsey County sheriff’s offices, the St. Paul Police Department, Dakota and Anoka County sheriff’s offices, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

The public is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service with any information about wanted fugitives by calling 1-800-336-0102 or submitting an anonymous tip through the USMS Tipps app or online at usmarshals.gov/tips.

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