Shootout Between Rivals In Minneapolis Leaves 1 Dead and 1 Injured
According to authorities, shortly after Midnight on the morning of Monday, July 27, 2015 people in two vehicles were engaged in a dispute. Moments later, the two vehicles pulled over near the intersection of 34th and Morgan Avenues North. Occupants of both vehicles got out and started shooting at each other. By the time Police arrived, the vehicles were gone, and one man was found dead near the intersection. The other man, injured in the shootout, was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
Assault with a dangerous weapon is a very serious crime that carries with it many severe consequences. In Minnesota this crime is considered a felony. A person commits assault with a dangerous weapon by injuring, attempting to injure, or threatening to injure another person with a gun or other weapon or object. Under Minnesota Statute, dangerous weapons include:
- Firearms (even unloaded)
- Any device designed to be used as weapons and capable of causing death or great bodily harm
- An fire used to cause death or great bodily harm, and
- Any flammable liquid or device that can be calculated or likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
“Great bodily harm” means bodily injury which creates a high probability of death, or which causes serious permanent disfigurement, or which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or other serious bodily harm. Usually gunshot wounds are considered great bodily harm.
Assault with a deadly weapon is, at a minimum, a 7-year felony, and increases to a statutory-maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, depending on the level of harm actually inflicted on the victim. In addition to a felony conviction, there are a number of other consequences that can affect an offender. A person convicted of a felony cannot legally possess a firearm. Even worse, assault with a dangerous weapon can carry with it a number of sentencing enhancements, and the possibility for federal charges. These include enhancements for three prior violent felony convictions (dangerous career offender), committing a drive-by shooting or for the benefit of a gang, using an automatic weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm.
If you face assault charges of any kind, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Call Sieben & Cotter at 651-455-1555 to arrange your free and comprehensive consultation, or send a request for more information.