Fridley man charged in fatal Minneapolis Memorial Day drive-by
Raquan Rahjai Johnson, 21, of Fridley, was charged Monday with murder in a Memorial Day drive-by shooting that killed a man on Columbus Avenue South in Minneapolis.[1]
Investigators say GPS ankle-monitor and cell-phone data place Johnson at the Memorial Day shooting scene at the time the gunfire erupted.[1] Police recovered 32 shell casings from six firearms across two scenes, and say a 9mm casing from the homicide matched one from a May 24 Penn Avenue North shooting.[1]
Officers found one victim just after midnight on May 25 on Columbus Avenue South with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.[1] Two other victims told police someone in a passing vehicle opened fire on them.[1] Johnson allegedly admitted to shooting in the May 24 Penn Avenue incident and said he drove two friends to the Memorial Day scene knowing they planned a gunfight.[1] He told investigators his friends fired at the three victims and that he supplied his gun when one friend ran out of bullets.[1]
Police say Johnson was arrested and charged while wearing a GPS ankle bracelet, and prosecutors have filed murder charges as the investigation continues.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant: Raquan Rahjai Johnson, 21, of Fridley, charged with murder for a Memorial Day drive‑by shooting in Minneapolis.
- Victim 1 was found just after midnight May 25 on Columbus Avenue South with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest; Victims 2 and 3 reported someone in a passing vehicle opened fire on them.
- Police recovered 32 shell casings from six firearms across two scenes and say a 9mm casing from the homicide matched one from a May 24 Penn Avenue North shooting.
- Investigators cite GPS ankle‑monitor data and cell‑phone records placing Johnson at the Memorial Day shooting scene at the time of gunfire.
- Johnson allegedly admitted shooting in the earlier Penn Avenue incident and said he drove two friends to the second scene knowing they planned a gunfight, claiming the friends fired at the three victims while he supplied his gun when one ran out of bullets.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time