Prosecutors on Monday afternoon announced charges against four men in last week’s shooting of Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced the charges in a press conference. He said Allen “Lance” Scarsella, 23, was charged with one count of second-degree riot and five counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon for shooting at the demonstrators.
Freeman added that Joseph Daniel Backman, 27, Nathan Wayne Gustavsson, 21, and Daniel Thomas Macey, 26, were each charged with one count of second-degree riot.
Scarsella was being held on $500,000 bail while the other three men each were being held on $250,000 bail, Freeman said.
When a reporter asked whether prosecutors were considering hate crimes charges as well, Freeman said it would be “improper” for prosecutors to pursue more charges. He pointed out that the sentences for the crimes the four men were charged with were longer than those for any hate crime designation in Minnesota.
However, Freeman said the investigation was ongoing with the help of the FBI and added that hates crimes charges could still be brought at the federal level.
This post has been updated.
Catherine, typo in your lede.
White good-ole-boys shooting up a predominantly black protest?
Of course it’s not a hate crime… They’ll plead down to unlawful discharge of a firearm inside city limits and pay a $28 fine. Anyone wanna take that bet?
Has anyone heard from Cruz or Fiorina yet?
Maybe the others, but I think the shooter is likely screwed. We’ll see.
how much?
remember federal charges are still pending