17-year-old to Stand Trial as Adult in 2022 Minneapolis Homicide
A 17-year-old has been certified to stand trial as an adult, accused of 2nd-degree murder and other charges after an uptown Minneapolis shooting in April 2022.
According to a criminal complaint, just before midnight on April 23, 2022, officers working in the downtown area broadcast that gunshots had been heard near Hennepin Ave. & Lagoon Ave.
Responding officers found a male victim bleeding and on the ground near the Mozaic Parking Ramp. A Good Samaritan was providing first aid, but paramedics pronounced the victim deceased at the scene and officers found a gun nearby.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video in the area and observed Leontawan Lentez Holt, 25, and Jaqwon James Smith—who was 16 years old at the time—at Williams Pub.
Video shows Holt punching another patron at the bar, starting a brawl. Smith joined in the fight and assaulted the individual along with Holt. The victim and another male ran back into the bar when the fight began but left less than a minute later.
The fight was then broken up and Holt and Smith exited Williams Pub with three other people. They were captured on other video surveillance systems after leaving the bar. In one video, Holt hands Smith a handgun, which he hides in his pocket.
PREVIOUS: Fight at Uptown Bar Leads to Gunfire, Man Dead
Shortly after, Holt’s group walk west toward the victim, who was walking east. After passing each other, the victim appeared to try and pull something out of his pocket.
The video shows Holt and Smith turn and fire shots towards the victim, who was struck by the gunfire. Holt and Smith then fled the area in a Dodge Charger at a high rate of speed.
YOUTUBE: VIDEO on the night of the shooting
The vehicle was located nearby and officers discovered a silver handgun in the front seat. Forensic testing determined the casings found at the scene were fired from the gun found in the vehicle. A bullet was recovered from the victim’s body, but it didn’t match the gun that was found at the scene.
Based on that information and video evidence, it was determined that Holt fired the gun that killed the victim.
Both Holt and Smith are being held on 2nd-degree murder charges and face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
TWITTER: Our thread on the shooting
> See more of our latest coverage