Minneapolis man charged with second-degree murder in drug deal robbery

A Minneapolis man was charged with second-degree murder in a fatal shooting during a drug deal robbery, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday.

Giovanni Williams, 23, was identified by police as the suspect on the night of the shooting. Police were unable to find Williams until Tuesday morning when they located and arrested him at a Brooklyn Park residence. Williams is expected to make his first court appearance tomorrow. Prosecutors will seek bail of $2M.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the Pump n’ Munch gas station at 1505 69^th Ave. N. in Brooklyn Center around 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 11. When law enforcement arrived, they found the 45-year-old male victim in the front passenger seat of a 2002 Chevy Blazer with his girlfriend who was screaming and holding an article of clothing against the victim’s head wound. Police and paramedics treated him, but he died at the scene.

The victim’s girlfriend told police that a man she knew as “Giovanni” shot the victim. She also informed police that earlier in the day, she had arranged with another person to sell an ounce of marijuana for $300. That other person put her in contact with Giovanni Williams, and the agreement was to meet at the gas station.

The victim’s girlfriend drove herself and her boyfriend to the gas station, where within minutes of arriving, a Chrysler 200 pulled into a parking spot next to the Chevy Blazer. Williams got out of the Chrysler 200 and climbed into the back seat of the Chevy Blazer. Williams talked with the victim about the marijuana, then asked to smell it. Williams then indicated he was robbing the victim and fired one shot into his head, the complaint states.

Surveillance video and one of the people in the Chrysler with Williams verified much of the girlfriend’s account.

Giovanni Williams Criminal Complaint (PDF)