A Minneapolis man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of his former girlfriend on Sunday evening in north Minneapolis.
Prosecutors say 50-year-old David Eugene Wright is accused of killing Mariah Samuels near her vehicle on Sept. 14.
Surveillance footage provided by residents showed a man on a bicycle in the area. Police compared the footage with Wright’s driver’s license photo and concluded they matched. Wright was arrested the following day in Anoka. During an interview at the Hennepin County Jail, police say Wright admitted knowing the victim and told officers, “I’m not going to fight this situation,” adding, “This is not going to be a hard-fought case.” He also suggested officers review his text exchanges with the victim to “understand why he did this.”
Family members told investigators Samuels had recently reported Wright contacting her in violation of the protective order, sending her messages expressing jealousy over her being with another man. Police also obtained video from August showing Wright assaulting her.
Wright has a prior felony drug conviction from 2006, making it illegal for him to possess firearms or ammunition. He is also on federal probation. Bail has been set at $1 million and he remains in custody.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Wright faces up to 40 years in prison. The firearm possession charge carries a maximum penalty of nearly one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.
