Man Sentenced For Minneapolis Gunfight That Killed Off-Duty Firefighter
via Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 6½ years in prison for his role in a Minneapolis shootout that left off-duty firefighter Joseph Johns dead.
Marquise Trevone Hammonds-Ford, of Monticello, entered a guilty plea on Oct. 1, 2024, for one count of prohibited possession of a firearm.
As part of the plea, more serious charges of first-degree riot resulting in death and possession of a machine gun were dismissed.
Hammonds-Ford’s sentence was an upward departure from the guidelines, though still significantly lower than the maximum allowed, with the court citing the seriousness of his actions—specifically, firing a weapon multiple times in a crowded area.
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While forensic evidence showed that Hammonds-Ford did not fire the bullet that killed Johns, investigators determined that he played a significant role in the incident by shooting into the air over a group of people, which escalated the confrontation into a deadly exchange of gunfire. It occurred near a bar in the northernmost section of the Seward neighborhood early Sunday, May 5, 2024.
Officers later found 63 bullet casings near the scene and determined seven different guns had been used in the gunfight.
The criminal complaint noted that investigation into the other suspects responsible for Johns’ death is ongoing.
Johns served as a firefighter in Eden Prairie and Eagan and was off-duty at the time. He had been at a nearby bar for a private party. Johns was attempting to direct traffic during the incident when he was struck by a bullet. Witnesses confirmed that he was not involved in any of the altercation leading up to the shootout.
“My thoughts are with Mr. Johns’ family today. While someone else fired the fatal shot, Mr. Hammonds-Ford committed a reckless act of gun violence, instigating a shootout that took the life of a member of our community and a dedicated firefighter,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “This sentence is necessary to hold him accountable for his role in Mr. Johns’ death and preserve public safety."
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