Man is charged with murder for killing two people at a Dinkytown tobacco store

MINNEAPOLIS — A 26-year-old man is charged with murder Shooting that killed two men at a tobacco store in the Dinkytown neighborhood of Minneapolis.

A third person was injured in the December 2023 shooting at the Royal Cigar and Tobacco Shop.

The Minneapolis man faces four counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of second-degree premeditated murder and two counts of attempted second-degree premeditated murder, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.

He is also charged with one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to the criminal complaint, a group of men were in a fight when the man entered the store and repeatedly fired a semi-automatic pistol at certain members of the group.

Two men in the group died and a store employee who tried to break up the fight was shot and injured.

According to the criminal complaint, a video showed the man firing several shots at the two men who were killed. According to the complaint, the man shot twice at a third man but missed his target. At least 24 shots were fired inside the store.

He left the scene in a Kia with four men who investigators say are members or associates of a Minneapolis street gang called the “Crazy Boyz,” the complaint says.

Investigators believe the two deceased men were known members or associates of another Minneapolis gang called the Lowz.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the man is in custody.

Note: The above video first aired on December 3, 2024