A 17-year-old is now charged with two counts of 2nd-degree murder for allegedly gunning down a man who was interrupting a car break-in outside his Saint Paul home.

Police were called to a home on the 2300 block of Chilcombe Ave. around 7:21 a.m. Saturday, May 6 for multiple reports of a shooting.

Officers arrived and located Michael Brasel, 44, suffering from gunshot wounds with bystanders performing CPR. Paramedics transported Brasel to Hennepin Healthcare where he was pronounced deceased.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined Brasel suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and back. His cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and his manner of death was ruled a homicide. Brasel was the father of two boys and a Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association coach. He was remembered by friends and neighbors at a candlelight vigil as a “cornerstone” of the community.

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According to court documents, Brasel’s wife told officers that he usually wakes up early and was likely eating breakfast near the window when he saw someone going through their vehicle parked out front. Brasel’s son told officers that he was inside the house when he heard his dad yell outside, “What are you doing?” Shortly after, he heard six gunshots and saw a male with dark clothing get into a dark vehicle which fled west from the scene.

Brasel’s vehicle was parked on the street with the door open when officers arrived. Brasel’s wife said it appeared the car had been rummaged through and items that were usually in the center console were now on the driver’s seat.

Investigators reviewed video surveillance from homes in the area which captured the suspect’s vehicle. Later, investigators learned about a report of a vehicle driving recklessly at a location about a mile and a half away from the scene just after the shooting occurred.

A man on a run observed a black sedan speeding and nearly hitting another vehicle. The sedan had to swerve up onto the curb and the sidewalk to avoid hitting the other car, causing the front bumper and the license plate of the sedan to fall off. The man said the driver of the vehicle appeared to be an Asian male with a ponytail. The license plate registered to a black Honda sedan.

Investigators determined that officers had two recent contacts with the Honda. In both cases, the driver of the vehicle was Kle Swee, 17. Body-worn camera footage was reviewed and confirmed that during both prior police contacts Swee had his hair in a ponytail.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant for Swee’s suspected phone number. The data revealed that the phone location was consistent with being at both previous police contacts. The phone was also in the area of Brasel’s home around the time of the murder. Phone data then shows the location near the driving complaint before returning to Swee’s last known address in Saint Paul.

Officers executed a search warrant on May 10 at the home where Swee lived. Swee fled from the back of the home through a window, but was captured and placed under arrest. A search revealed a Honda vehicle key in his pocket. Officers found the Honda parked inside the garage and missing the front bumper. Officers also recovered the cellphone matching the location pings.

Police say Swee refused to give a statement to officers.

PREVIOUSLY: Man Dead After Saturday Morning Shooting in Saint Paul

Court filings charge Swee with two counts of 2nd-degree murder and because of his age, there is a presumptive motion for adult certification, meaning Swee’s lawyers have the burden of proving why he shouldn’t be charged as an adult. The 2nd-degree murder charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

“This senseless act of gun violence tore apart a family as well as their community of neighbors and friends whose loss of a father, husband, friend and coach will be felt for a lifetime. We are committed to addressing this youth’s actions with every appropriate measure available to us,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a written statement. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family, friends, and community.”

In April 2022, Swee was also implicated in a robbery at Harding High School in Saint Paul. In that incident, he allegedly cornered a student in the bathroom and pointed a BB gun at the victim’s head. The victim fought with Swee after trying to grab the gun and then left the bathroom. Swee fled the campus, was later charged with robbery and received probation.

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