Drive-by shooter pleads guilty to second-degree murder

Stevevontae Dellshawn Champion pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 40-year-old Roderick Evans, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Monday.

In court this afternoon, Champion, 22, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to second-degree, intentional murder of Evans in May of 2017. At his sentencing on September 17, our office will be seeking the maximum sentence under the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines of 391 months.

“Mr. Champion fired nine shots at a group of people in broad daylight in a residential neighborhood, killing Mr. Evans. Fortunately, he did not injure anyone else,” said Freeman. “When Mr. Champion is sentenced next month, we will be asking for the maximum of 32.5 years for this senseless act of violence.”

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a shooting near 37th Avenue N. and Sixth Street on May 11, 2017. Officers found Evans lying in the street and bleeding heavily through his shirt. He was declared dead after paramedics arrived. The Hennepin County Medical examiner determined that Evans died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Witnesses told police that a minivan slowed down as it came upon Evans and others standing outside near the intersection and the rear sliding door was open. One of the three men inside the van was wearing a black ski mask and began shooting from the open sliding door, the complaint states.

At the scene of the shooting, police found nine discharged cartridge casings which matched a .40 caliber handgun found in the backseat of the minivan. The gun was tested for DNA and 89 percent of the world’s population could be excluded, but Champion could not be excluded. Additionally, Champion’s DNA was found on the ski mask and on the grab handle above the minivan sliding door, according to the complaint.