Originally published 2:57 p.m. December 29th, 2022
Updated: 8:01 a.m. December 30th, 2022
(KNSI) — One of four people charged in connection to the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Johntae Hudson at Mall of America on December 23rd was also allegedly wanted in Stearns County.
On Thursday, 18-year-old TaeShawn Adams-Wright and 17-year-old Lavon Semaj Longstreet were both charged in Hennepin County District Court with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The criminal complaint says court records showed Adams-Wright had a warrant out for his arrest stemming from an assault in Stearns County.
Two other 17-year-olds suspected in the case were charged in juvenile court with felony second-degree riot.
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses reported seeing a group of men arguing. Two men were armed with handguns and extended magazines. Surveillance footage from the scene shows Hudson and two friends heading toward an escalator. The two friends get on, but Hudson is blocked by one of the suspects. He tries to back away, but the others “spread out in an apparent effort to corral Hudson from all sides.” Hudson tried to run away, but one of the suspects grabbed him, and they struggled, knocking over displays and sending customers scrambling for cover. As Hudson was running away, the suspects chased him and shot at him eight to ten times. The suspects fled the store, got into a car and drove away.
The day after the shooting, police announced five people were arrested in connection to the shooting at a home in St. Louis Park.
Charges were initially expected by Tuesday, but two extensions were granted because the suspects were uncooperative. Prosecutors had until noon Thursday to file charges or release them.
Several gun-related incidents have occurred at the Mall of America in the past year. In August, shots were fired outside the Nike store, and a few weeks later, there was an alleged armed robbery by a man with a long gun. Police tackled him, and no one was hurt. On New Year’s Eve 2021, two people were shot on the mall’s third level.
Metal detectors were installed at an entrance after the shots fired in August. Mall officials said they have beefed up security in both visible and invisible ways. Bag checks are now happening as customers enter the mall.
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KNSI News Director Jennifer Lewerenz contributed to this story.
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