Brooklyn Park man charged in Maple Grove Benihana shooting
Deontae Creshaun Allen Coney, 31, of Brooklyn Park, has been charged in Hennepin County with one count of second-degree assault for a Nov. 14 shooting at the Benihana on Fountains Drive in Maple Grove that injured a man. Court documents and witnesses say video shows Coney retrieve a distinctive crossbody "man purse," return and fire one shot that struck the victim through the left groin and exited the right buttock, shout "And that’s why you don’t mess around!" as he fled in a white Jeep, and later search social media for the victim and relatives; he was arrested in Inver Grove Heights and is being held on $250,000 bail with an omnibus hearing set for next month.
📌 Key Facts
- The suspect is identified as 31-year-old Deontae Creshaun Allen Coney of Brooklyn Park.
- Coney is charged in Hennepin County with one count of second-degree assault for the Nov. 14 shooting at the Maple Grove Benihana on Fountains Drive.
- A complaint and video show Coney retrieving a distinctive crossbody bag (described as a 'man purse'), returning and firing one shot that struck the victim through the left groin and exited the right buttock.
- Witnesses reported Coney shouted, "And that’s why you don’t mess around!" as he left the scene and got into a white Jeep.
- Investigators say Coney’s social media activity shows he repeatedly searched for the victim, the victim’s girlfriend, and relatives in the hours after the shooting, before police publicly named the victim.
- Coney was arrested in Inver Grove Heights, is being held on $250,000 bail after a first appearance, and an omnibus hearing is set for next month.
📊 Relevant Data
In Minnesota, Black individuals, who comprise approximately 7% of the state's population, accounted for 76% of known murder perpetrators in 2021.
The demographics of crime in Minnesota, with updated 2022 data — American Experiment
Homicide rates are more than 10 times higher among Black Minnesotans than among White Minnesotans.
New dashboard offers greater resolution on violent death data in Minnesota — Minnesota Department of Health
In Minnesota, 62% of victims of violent crime were of the same race as the person perpetrating violence against them.
Minnesota Criminal Justice Data Snapshot — Justice Reinvestment Initiative
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has a population that is 30.1% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic), according to the 2020 Census.
Brooklyn Park, MN | Data USA — Data USA
Maple Grove, Minnesota, has a population that is 79.1% White, 7.0% Black, and 7.0% Asian, according to recent census data.
Maple Grove Demographics | Current Minnesota Census Data — Minnesota Demographics
Hennepin County, Minnesota, has seen its BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) population increase to 31.2% of the total population as of recent estimates.
City of Maple Grove - Census Report — Metro Council
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Suspect identified as 31-year-old Deontae Creshaun Allen Coney of Brooklyn Park.
- Coney is charged in Hennepin County with one count of second-degree assault for the Nov. 14 shooting at the Maple Grove Benihana on Fountains Drive.
- Complaint says video shows Coney retrieve a "distinctive" crossbody bag or "man purse," then return and fire one shot that struck the victim through the left groin and exited his right buttock.
- Witnesses reported Coney shouted, "And that’s why you don’t mess around!" as he left and got into a white Jeep.
- Investigators say Coney’s social media activity shows he repeatedly searched for the victim, the victim’s girlfriend, and relatives in the hours after the shooting, before police publicly named the victim.
- Coney was arrested in Inver Grove Heights and is being held on $250,000 bail after a first appearance, with an omnibus hearing set for next month.