Man pleads guilty to straw purchasing conspiracy involving gun linked to Truck Park bar shooting

Krystal Frasier KSTP

Federal officials say a St. Paul man has pleaded guilty after being charged with a straw purchasing conspiracy involving firearms.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 27-year-old Gabriel Young-Duncan of St. Paul participated in the conspiracy to illegally buy multiple firearms from May 11, 2021, to Oct. 17, 2021.

Authorities say Young-Duncan and a co-conspirator worked together and made false statements to federal firearms licensees throughout the Twin Cities area.

As previously reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, an indictment filed on Jan. 18 alleges the firearms were all bought from Fleet Farm stores in Blaine, Oakdale and Lakeville.

Afterward, Young-Duncan’s co-conspirator would buy the guns, state on paperwork the co-conspirator was the actual buyer and then transfer the guns to Young-Duncan, who would keep them or give them to third parties, prosecutors say.

Young-Duncan entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to make a false statement in a firearm purchase Wednesday, however, a sentencing date still needs to be set.

Authorities also allege one of the illegally purchased firearms was used in the Seventh Street Truck Park Bar shooting in October of 2021.

The shooting resulted in the death of Marquisha Wiley and injured more than a dozen others.

Three men — Jeffrey Hoffman, Terry Brown and Devondre Phillips — were arrested for the shooting.