Minneapolis man sentenced to 30+ years for fatal MOA shooting of Johntae Hudson
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man convicted of gunning down a young man at Mall of America in 2022 has received a sentence of 30 years and seven months.
TaeShawn Adams-Wright learned his sentence Thursday morning in Hennepin County District Court following victim impact statements.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a statement following the sentencing.
"My thoughts today are with the victims' loved ones as they try to heal from such a devastating loss. Mr. Adams-Wright engaged in gun violence that endangered the lives of countless people as they enjoyed their day at the Mall of America. A long prison sentence is appropriate to sufficiently protect public safety."
Earlier this year, Adams-Wright, 19, pleaded guilty to both second-degree intentional homicide and second-degree intentional assault in the Christmas weekend shooting that killed 19-year-old Johntae Hudson inside Nordstrom.
During his guilty plea hearing, Adams-Wright admitted that Hudson was shot and killed at point-blank range after being tackled.
"My son is gone and no matter how long his sentencing, he'll still be here," Hudson's mother said of Adams-Wright when he pleaded guilty. "His parents will have him, talk to him, write him, see him. We don't have that. I just want the world to know I had an amazing son who was full of love and life, and who was loved."
A second suspect, 19-year-old Lavon Longstreet, faces the same charges as those levied against Adams-Wright. Longstreet has a court hearing scheduled for Friday, and a trial is currently set for June 3. Longstreet, who is also from Minneapolis, was 17 years old at the time of the shooting and Adams-Wright was 18.
Two other 17-year-old boys were also charged in juvenile court with second-degree riot, a felony. One is accused of blocking Hudson's escape, while the other is accused of grabbing him while he tried to flee.