Authorities ask for public’s help in Lake Street pawn shop homicide

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said on Tuesday the investigation and possible prosecution of a Lake Street pawn shop owner needs assistance from the public.

Freeman says Calvin Horton Jr. died from a shotgun wound to his torso on the evening of May 27 during the riots and civil unrest. He was shot in or close to Cadillac Pawn, on East Lake Street. At the time of the shooting, peaceful protests over the police killing of George Floyd had started to turn violent, with a night of looting, arson and gunfire.

The pawn shop owner was arrested the night of the shooting and was held in Hennepin County Jail for several days. He was released pending further investigation. At this time, the investigation only has one witness who saw part of the incident. Investigators have not found any surveillance camera video showing the incident.

However Horton’s family says they have seen Facebook video that indicates he was shot in the back, and they believe the owner of the pawn shop is responsible.

"I just want to say we are absolutely heartbroken the man who shot my dad in the back is still free, and we’re left to feel as if we’re the ones in prison," said 20 year old Cadaezhah Horton, daughter of the victim.

"I just want justice for my son, that’s all, I just want justice," said Mae Roberts, Horton’s mother.

Freeman says the scene was chaotic that night with many people in and around the pawn shop. Some of those people pelted police officers as they tried to render first aid to Horton and attacked them with objects again after the ambulance left and they tried to investigate the crime scene. Officers retreated and investigators were unable to safely return to the crime scene until the next day.

Roberts says the police didn’t do their job to investigate the crime scene.

"I told them (police) if y’all done your job, close that crime scene, go in there before looters would get it, but they didn’t do their job and they’re trying to sweep it under the rug now," Roberts said.

"We need the help of anyone who was in or around Cadilac Pawn at the time of the shooting," Freeman said. "We need to know what happened several minutes before the shooting and then the shooting itself."

Anyone with information about the shooting of Horton should contact Crimestoppers at 800-222-8477 or online.