Medical examiner: Man found dead in trash bin had been shot multiple times

A death that Minneapolis police were investigating as suspicious has now been ruled a homicide, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Reid Christopher Johnson, 51, was found dead in a garbage bin Sunday afternoon on the 700 block of 30th Avenue North. On Monday, the medical examiner said his death was the result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Police have yet to announce any arrests in the case.

Real estate agent Josh Fredrickson tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he came out to the north Minneapolis property Saturday to host an open house. That’s when he discovered an SUV inside the detached garage. 

Fredrickson called police, but the car wasn’t able to get towed until the following day.

Fredrickson returned Sunday for another house showing but this time discovered the SUV was gone and a big garbage bin was left behind. 

After hearing about the suspicious car, homeowner Bill says he went to install a garage lock Sunday and asked Fredrickson to help move the heavy garbage can that was left there.

“There was something long sticking out, wrapped in a blue tarp, and so Josh opened it up and his face just absolutely dropped,” Bill said.

“I went and pulled back the tarp and I see a foot, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, Bill, there’s a dead body in here.’ He’s like, ‘Josh, quit joking,'” Fredrickson said.

The gruesome discovery opened up a scar for Fredrickson as his own sister was murdered nearly two years ago. 

“Our thoughts go out to the family. What a horrible horrible thing. There’s evil in this world,” Fredrickson said.

“It was heartbreaking to know that somebody’s life had to end and they ended up in a garbage can,” Bill said.