Five Teenagers Arrested in Fatal Mall of America Shooting

Five teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to a fatal shooting at Minnesota’s Mall of America during Christmas weekend. SWAT officials arrested three 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men at a home near St. Louse Park on Saturday, 12 hours after a 19-year-old man was shot dead. 

The teenager was shot during a brawl that occurred inside the shopping complex, according to Bloomington Chief of Police Booker Hodges.

Hodges states he is convinced one of the 18-year-olds arrested had officially pulled the trigger. Officers have yet to rule out the possibility that there was more than one shooter, and that there is still a sixth shooter at large. But, authorities believe the shooting was a “long-standing feud” between the two groups of teenagers.

Police Arrest Five After Fatal Mall Of America Shooting

The teenagers had been fighting inside the first floor of the mall’s Nordstrom on Friday night when one of the teens whipped a out gun and opened fire. The 19-year-old teenager was identified as Johntae Hudson thanks to a GoFundMe fundraising page created by his sister, Janayea Hudson. Hudson remembered her brother as “the most loving and caring person to his family and friends.” 

She added the boy, “radiated positive and fun energy and his smile lit up the room” and was a “great person.” She also noted he was an “overall great person” and the family wanted to give him the funeral that he deserves. 

All of the five suspects were booked on charges of second-degree murders, with two of the adult males being identified as Deandre Antioun Depratto and Taeshawn Adams Wright. It still isn’t clear if any of the suspects have entered pleas or have retained attorneys. 

According to authorities, the altercation lasted around 30 seconds with a lockdown occurring at the mall after the shooting until 9:10 pm. The investigation is still ongoing.

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