Minneapolis man charged with fatally shooting girlfriend's ex-boyfriend as he dropped off children

A Minneapolis man has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he fatally shot his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend while the victim was dropping off children to visit their mother.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said Tuesday that 44-year-old Rodney Velho was charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 31-year-old man.

According to a criminal complaint, Velho and his girlfriend were celebrating her birthday Sunday at her apartment on 80th Avenue in Maple Grove. At some point, the woman told Velho that the victim, who was the father of her children and had custody of them, would be dropping by with the kids for a scheduled visitation.

1 dead, 1 in custody in Maple Grove shooting

Surveillance video showed the victim arrived with the children shortly before 6 p.m., and another witness told police the children's mother introduced Velho to the victim and they shook hands.

But, about 45 minutes later, the two men got into an argument in the bathroom and Velho allegedly pulled out a black, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and shot the victim, who stumbled out of the bathroom and fell to the floor in the kitchen.

The complaint states Velho then fired two more shots, and when police arrived they found the victim suffering from two gunshot wounds to his chest and one to his abdomen. Police also didn't find any weapons on the victim.

Velho fled when police were called. Surveillance video showed him coming out of the apartment building at 7:10 p.m., the complaint states.

He was taken into custody by police in the parking lot.

Velho is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday.