Extra charges announced against man accused in 3 shootings at encampments in Minneapolis
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty on Monday announced additional charges against a man suspected in a string of shootings that occurred in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Joshua Anthony Jones, 36, initially faced one count of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.
Moriarty, at a news conference on Monday, announced an additional count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
She said Jones also faces three counts of illegal firearms possession.
On Sept. 18, there were multiple reports of shootings at encampments across south Minneapolis. Jones is now suspected of being the sole shooter, Moriarty announced, adding that it is believed that he shot five people at three different locations.
“People who are unhoused and living in encampments must feel under attack already. They are exposed to threats of violence, and these shootings can only decrease their sense of security,” Moriarty said.
Prosecutors allege that Jones first shot at three people, killing 20-year-old Roland Littleowl, around 5 a.m. in an alley on the 2500 block of 17th Avenue South. A second person was injured and he missed the third person.
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He is also accused of killing 39-year-old Robert Brown near East 25th Street and Bloomington Avenue around 4:21 p.m.
Court officials say Jones shot and injured a fifth person around 7:19 p.m. that night. He was found near the scene of the third shooting and was arrested.
However, Moriarty added, “I want to make clear once again that the investigation has shown that while these attacks occurred at or near encampments, it does not appear that Mr. Jones was targeting the unhoused community.”
While a motive is still unclear, she added that Jones appeared to have known the people he targeted and that she believes most of the victims were not encampment residents.
Moriarty added that Jones also faces one count of second-degree assault for a separate shooting in March.
People who live near the crime scenes believe the homeless encampments are the root cause of the violence.
“We are very, very upset,” a neighbor who lives across the street from homeless encampment said.
This neighbor has been faced with close calls, including a bullet flying through his living room, narrowly missing him. He showed 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS bullet holes in the outside of his home.
“Our children, they can’t play outside because they scare them,” he said.
Just last week, he believes people from the encampment broke into his car — costing him nearly $1,000 to fix it.
He explained his neighbors were forced to board up recently because of break-ins.
After 12 years in his house, he explained he’s ready to pack up. “I want to sell it. That’s a decision right now to move somewhere else,” he said.