Update: Victim Identified; Second Man Charged in Fatal Shooting

Originally published at 11:23 a.m. June 2, 2022

Updated 5:10 p.m. June 2, 2022

(KNSI) — Police have identified the man who was found shot to death in his home last month.

According to the criminal complaint, 911 calls came in at 7:44 p.m. on May 24th for multiple gunshots in the 1200 block of 10th Avenue South. Neighbors reported hearing “two volleys of multiple rounds” coming from the area around the home. Police arrived to find the victim, now identified as 38-year-old Michael John Batsche, with a gunshot wound to the head. Life saving measures were taken on the scene, but the Batsche died.

Investigators searched his phone, which showed communication between him and 42-year-old Alphonso Cotto on May 21st that contained a picture of an entry on a ledger showing he owed $600 for a “tool,” which is common street slang for a gun. He reportedly also owed Cotto $500 for “up” and “Gs.” The criminal complaint says May 23rd, an angry, expletive-laden message was sent to Batsche asking him to give the gun back, and $600 would be knocked off the debt.

Police say Cotto and 52-year-old Paul Erving Coleman Sr. were seen on the home’s motion-activated camera running toward a vehicle with another person in the driver’s seat. As Coleman got in the vehicle, he allegedly fired at least one round toward the house as they drove away.

Coleman was arrested in St. Cloud two days later and initially denied any involvement, but later, he reportedly admitted in a sworn statement that he was with Cotto before the shooting. He also told police that the shooting was part of the dispute between Cotto and Batsche. He said he was there to help Cotto and make sure he was OK and that he did not shoot anybody. Cotto was arrested in Chicago where he is awaiting extradition.

Both Coleman and Cotto are charged with one felony count of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

The investigation is ongoing.

___