Man pleads guilty to arson of Minneapolis pawn shop
(Left): A still video from the first video, showing the pouring of liquid over the pawn shop. (Right): The man later identified as Lee, in front of the burning pawn shop.[U.S. Attorney's Office]
A Rochester man has entered a guilty plea in connection to the arson of a Minneapolis pawn shop.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said 26-year-old Montez Terriel Lee pleaded guilty Thursday.
According to his plea, Lee and others broke into the Max It Pawn on East Lake Street on May 28, 2020. Surveillance footage showed him pouring a fire accelerant around the pawn shop and lighting it on fire.
The building was destroyed by the fire, and a second video showed Lee in front of the building saying, "(Expletive) this place. We’re going to burn this (expletive) down," according to the complaint.
His sentencing will be set at a later date.