2nd charging extension granted in MOA fatal shooting
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- A group of teenagers could be charged this week in a deadly shooting inside the Mall of America.
Johntae Hudson, 19, succumbed to his injuries after being shot inside the Nordstrom department store on Friday.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges says it appears there was a physical altercation prior to the shooting. Videos posted on social media show shoppers hiding in stores. Some videos show shoppers running for cover after a loud bang is heard. One bystander's coat was grazed by a bullet.
The day after the shooting, police announced five people were arrested in St. Louis Park in connection to the shooting. The individuals arrested include three 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men. They are being held on pending charges of second-degree murder, police said.
On Wednesday, the Hennepin County District Court said that a second charging extension has been granted for all five suspects.
If there are no charges filed by noon Thursday, the suspects will be released from jail. They could still be charged at a future date.
The first charging extension was granted by the court on Tuesday.
When the arrests were announced, police said they were still looking into the motive.
"We know the how, we know the where, we know the what and we know the who. We don't know the why," Hodges said.
Gov. Tim Walz said after the shooting that the violence at the mall on Friday night was "absolutely unacceptable." He said he was in touch with local officials to provide support and resources.
This is the second lockdown Mall of America has gone on this year--shots fired outside the Nike store prompted a lockdown in August. On New Year's Eve of 2021, the mall went into lockdown after two people were shot on the third level of the mall.
Bloomington PD press conference Saturday:
