Dollar Tree Shooting Suspect Facing Murder Charges
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Murder charges have been filed against the man accused of fatally shooting one man and severely wounding another Monday at the Dollar Tree store in Burnsville.
Grant Hendrickson, 27, is charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of assault, and one count of illegally possessing a firearm, court documents filed in Dakota County show.
According to a criminal complaint, gunfire was heard in the discount store after Hendrickson's girlfriend got into an argument with an employee, who informed her, for the first time, that her boyfriend was a sex offender. Indeed, officials say Hendrickson was convicted of rape in 2010.
After getting a call about this from his girlfriend, Hendrickson quickly made his way to the store and confronted the employee. The two got into a fight, and the manager forced Hendrickson to leave the store.
Shortly after, he returned with a gun, the criminal complaint states. Witnesses said he shot 69-year-old Donald Hortsch in the head. Hortsch died at the scene. The other victim, a 26-year-old man, said Hendrickson that shot him twice, once in his right leg and once in his abdomen.
Authorities say the 26-year-old, who was not identified, underwent emergency surgery and will be a paraplegic as a result of his injuries.
Witnesses told police that Hendrickson tried to drive off in a beige Buick and throw his gun near a dumpster. Officers, however, arrested Hendrickson shortly after the shooting and recovered a 9 mm handgun.
Hendrickson appeared in court Wednesday, and a judge set his bail at $1 million with conditions. If convicted of the charges, Hendrickson could face a lifetime in prison.
His next court appearance is slated for Nov. 22 in Hastings.