Joshua Jones, suspect in shooting spree near Minneapolis homeless encampments, faces more charges
MINNEAPOLIS — A 36-year-old Bemidji man accused of going on a deadly shooting spree in south Minneapolis on Sept. 18 faces more criminal charges.
Joshua Jones was previously charged with one count of second-degree murder for the death of 39-year-old Robert Milton Brown, a count of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of illegal firearms possession for three separate shootings in about 15 hours near homeless encampments in the Phillips neighborhood.
On Monday, Moriarty said Jones will now be charged with another count of second-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Roland Scott Littleowl, two more counts of second-degree attempted murder and another count of illegal firearms possession.
She also said he will face a count of second-degree assault in connection to the shooting of a 32-year-old man on March 18 near Minneapolis' Lake Street/Midtown light rail station.
In that shooting, police say the victim suffered "grave injuries" after an altercation escalated to gunfire. That victim is still alive. Moriarty said DNA evidence tied Jones to that shooting and he was charged in July. The arrest warrant was active when he was taken into custody earlier this month.
In total, Jones now faces nine charges:
- Two counts of second-degree murder (Sept. 18 shootings)
- Three counts of second-degree attempted murder (Sept. 18 shootings)
- Three counts of illegal firearms possession (Sept. 18 shootings)
- One count of second-degree assault (March 18 attack)
The Sept. 18 attacks
Jones is accused of firing at five different people in three separate shootings on Sept. 18. Two men were killed, two others were hurt and a fifth person he allegedly shot at wasn't hurt.
Jones is accused of first opening fire on three people at about 4:40 a.m. on the 2500 block of 17th Avenue South, killing Littleowl and injuring another person. Jones allegedly missed the third person.
About 12 hours later, investigators say Jones fatally shot Brown point blank in the head on the 2500 block of Bloomington Avenue.
Then about three hours after that, Jones is accused of shooting another man in the shoulder on the 2400 block of 18th Avenue South. That victim survived and was able to identify Jones to police.
In Monday's press conference, Moriarty said that although the shootings occurred near encampments, she doesn't believe Jones was specifically targeting the unhoused. However, Mayor Jacob Frey ramped up the city's effort to close all encampments following the attacks.
Moriarty also said her office doesn't plan to identify any of the surviving victims in order to protect their safety, and she wants to keep Jones in custody until his trial due to the threat he poses to the community.
According to the original criminal complaint, Jones is connected to the Native Mob street gang and has several previous assault convictions.
If convicted of the Sept. 18 shooting charges alone, Jones faces a 135-year prison sentence.
