First Degree Murder Charges for Man Who Killed Coworker After she Rejected his Romantic Advances

(KNSI) — A grand jury in Benton County has charged a man with first degree premeditated murder after he allegedly killed a coworker who rejected his romantic advances.

Michael Jordan Carpenter is also charged with second-degree murder with intent after 28-year-old Nicole Hammond was shot to death in the parking lot of their northeast St. Cloud workplace as she arrived to clock in the morning of October 24th. A coworker told police they saw Carpenter get out of his car and walk toward the south end of the parking lot moments before they heard a gunshot. They said they saw Carpenter jog to his vehicle and drive away.

Investigators say they searched Hammond’s phone and found several text messages between her and Carpenter saying she didn’t want him to touch or manipulate her and said not to make things uncomfortable at work. Another text message on her phone showed her telling someone else he was mad at her. Other coworkers said Carpenter made advances toward her in the last month, which she had repeatedly rebuffed.

In a sworn statement, Carpenter admitted walking toward Hammond’s vehicle when he heard a gunshot and saw a person in a hat standing beside her. He said he was traumatized, so he left, did not go to work, did not call 911 and did not try and help her. He said he was upset and hadn’t slept well the night before due to their ongoing argument.

According to the criminal complaint, Carpenter made several contradictory statements and told a coworker he thought someone had been shot, so he left. Carpenter told his mother he saw his friend get shot at work and said when he got out of his car, he saw people down on the ground helping Hammond, which investigators say would be impossible due to lighting conditions and blocked line of sight.

A search warrant of Carpenter’s car allegedly turned up a .9mm pistol, and a loaded magazine was found in a carrying case on the driver’s side rear seat. Investigators said the ammunition matched a shell casing found next to the victim.

Bail for Carpenter was set at $4 million.

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