Gang Member Sentenced In Mpls. Shooting That Injured Mother, Toddler
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 28-year-old Minneapolis man has been sentenced in a wild shooting spree that resulted in a mother and child suffering significant wounds.
On Tuesday, Dontae Denae Peterson was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison with credit given for 250 days already served.
Last summer, Peterson was charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder for shooting at the driver of a sports utility vehicle, four counts of second-degree assault with the driver and mother as the victim, and two counts of first-degree assault with the baby as the victim. Four of the counts were charged as being for the benefit of a gang.
According to the criminal complaint, Peterson – a member of the 10z gang – had been feuding with a man, who is only identified as OT2, and his associates. On June 18, 2015, Peterson and friends of his were having several loud arguments with a OT2 at various locations near Peavey Park. During one of the arguments, Peterson flashed his handgun at OT2.
At around 2:15 p.m., Peterson noticed the light-colored SUV that OT2 and his friends had been riding in was traveling north on Park Avenue. He then ran through Peavey Park and stood between two parked cars. When the SUV approached, Peterson allegedly fired his gun at least eight times – emptying it, the complaint said.
Some of the bullets struck the vehicle, but at least one missed and struck a mother pushing a stroller and her 15-month-old child on the west side of Park Avenue. The bullet traveled through her leg. A bullet also struck the child, hitting the child's abdomen and traveling out of the child's back.
The child needed surgery and is now in stable condition, but the child's intestines and bowels were permanently damaged, according to the complaint.
