Farmington Man, 18, Charged in Drug Deal Shooting
Anderson made his first court appearance on the charges Monday and bail was set in the amount of $750,000 without conditions ($500,000 with conditions).
The Dakota County Attorney’s Office officially announced charges today in the shooting we told you about Friday in Farmington. Gage Allen David Anderson, 18, of Farmington, has been charged with one count of attempted 1st-degree murder (while committing a felony) in connection with the shooting on the north end of town March 19, 2021. A male juvenile was also involved in this incident and will appear in juvenile court on March 23.
According to the criminal complaint, on Friday afternoon, Farmington police responded to a report that a male pointed a gun at another person and that a woman told police she had observed a vehicle driving in the middle of the road. She saw the driver point a black handgun out of the window of the vehicle and another male get out and ran away from the driver, the complaint said. The driver followed the male running away from him, pointing the gun at him.
Farmington police received a second report of a vehicle driving erratically and officers responded, where they saw a male outside of the vehicle there stagger and fall to the ground. Officers determined that the male had sustained a gunshot wound to the back of his head and the victim reported he was shot by a white male wearing a sweatshirt, carrying a black backpack. Medics arrived and the victim was transported to the hospital.
In his statement to police, the victim reported that Gage Anderson and a friend of Anderson’s robbed him during a drug deal. The victim was driving his vehicle and the suspects wanted the victim to go and get more money, he said. While the three were in the vehicle, the victim attempted to exit the vehicle and escape from the suspects. It was during his attempted escape that the victim was shot.
The suspects were apprehended together shortly after the shooting and at the time of their arrest, the juvenile suspect was found in possession of a handgun.
Anderson made his first court appearance on the charges Monday and bail was set in the amount of $750,000 without conditions ($500,000 with conditions). His next court appearance is scheduled for March 29 in Hastings.