Charges against couple in Minneapolis kidnapping, assault

A man and woman who abducted a woman walking along Broadway Avenue have been charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Wednesday.

Andre Jackson, 31, of Crystal and Patrice Thomas, 30, of Minneapolis were each charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of second-degree assault. They are expected to make their first appearance Thursday.

Sunday, a man and a woman were walking along Broadway Avenue near Emerson Avenue North when they noticed a blue Dodge Durango following them, according to the criminal complaint. This made them nervous because the woman feared that the people in the Durango would retaliate against her because of a prior incident. So, the couple walked towards a nearby McDonald’s because it often had a security guard on duty.

Just as they reached the restaurant parking lot, Jackson and Thomas got out of the Durango and came towards the pair. The man could see a handgun in Thomas’ waistband. Thomas yelled at the woman, Jackson punched her in the head, dragged her into the Durango and drove away, the complaint states.

A short time later, police were called to an address on Emerson Avenue North. There, they found the woman with a gunshot to her left shoulder and injuries to her face and head. She told police she knows both Jackson and Thomas and once she was shoved into the Durango, Thomas drove away after handing the gun to Jackson, according to the complaint.

Jackson repeatedly hit the woman in the face and head with the gun. She eventually jumped from the moving vehicle and Jackson shot her. Jackson admitted to everything the victim said and Thomas admitted to most of it. Video footage also shows the abduction, the complaint states.

Jackson Criminal complaint (PDF)

Thomas Criminal complaint (PDF)