Murder charges filed against suspect in St. Paul triple homicide

By KSTP

Antonio Wright (Cook County, Ill. Jail)

A man has now been charged with murder in connection to a triple homicide in St. Paul.

Antonio Dupree Wright, 41, is charged with three counts of intentional second-degree murder and three counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Wright was arrested Wednesday morning in Chicago and remained there Friday as he awaits extradition.

Police were called to a duplex on the 900 block of Case Avenue at around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. Outside, two injured victims told police that three others were inside.

When officers went inside, they found 33-year-old Angelica Gonzales, 42-year-old Cory Freeman and 44-year-old Maisha Spaulding already dead.

According to a criminal complaint, one of the victims who was outside told police that she was in a back bedroom when she heard a man come into the house. She said there was then some talking and a gunshot followed. After she dove to the floor to hide, she said there were another 10 to 15 gunshots fired.

The other victim who was outside when police arrived said the man who shot him is named Antonio, and also goes by the nicknames “Figg” and “D.” The victim added that he considers Antonio — later identified as Wright — a close friend, although he has ties to a Chicago gang.

The victim told police that Wright pulled up to the home while wearing a ski mask and driving a motorbike that he’s seen Wright drive before. However, when the victim greeted Wright, the man pulled the mask further over his face, said, “I’m not D,” and then started shooting.

According to the complaint, the victim said he knows Wright very well and was sure he was the shooter, adding that he suspects Wright thought they were snitching on him. The victim also said Wright had previously shown him the tan Glock that was found at the scene.

Wright has multiple prior felony convictions, including for assault, burglary, armed robberies and drug possession, as well as kidnapping and attempted murder charges from an incident just two days earlier in Ramsey County.

His first court appearance hasn’t yet been set, as he’s still awaiting extradition.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi on Friday said, “This was a senseless and brutal act of violence that will never be acceptable in our community. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, and our thanks go out to law enforcement, especially the Saint Paul Police Department, who quickly located the person believed to be responsible for this terrible act.”