Robinson charged in killing of woman carrying his child, wounding another

Update (August 6, 2020)

Zachary Robinson now faces an additional second-degree murder charge, as the 26-week-old baby girl who was delivered as a result of the fatal shooting of the mother, 27-year-old Leneesha Columbus, has passed. The baby died August 5 after doctors removed the child from life support following an MRI that revealed no brain activity in the infant.

Doctors were able to deliver the child on July 5 after Columbus had been killed, but the baby remained in critical condition, and ultimately succumbed to complications of the premature birth.

Read the amended criminal complaint (PDF).

Original press release

A Minneapolis man was charged with murder and assault in the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman and the wounding of a man who asked him what he was doing, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Wednesday.

Zachary Robinson, 27, was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and felon in possession of a gun. An arrest warrant was issued and police are looking for Robinson.

According to the criminal complaint, on Sunday evening, July 5, police were called to a shooting at the George Floyd Memorial site at 38th Street East and Chicago Avenue South. They found a shot-up Ford Explorer a block away at 37th Street East and Elliot Avenue with 27-year-old Leneesha Columbus outside the vehicle and bystanders performing life-saving measures.

Witnesses told police they saw Robinson and Columbus arguing near her Explorer in a parking lot on Chicago Avenue between 37th and 38th streets. As she started to drive north on Chicago Avenue, Robinson fired several shots at the SUV and then returned to the parking lot while putting the gun in his waistband. Police also learned that Robinson is the father of the baby Columbus was carrying, the complaint states.

A man who was working as a peacekeeper at the memorial confronted Robinson in the parking lot and asked him what he was doing. Robinson pulled the handgun from his waistband and shot the man in his right foot, according to the complaint.

Columbus died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to her upper back. Doctors were able to deliver her baby, although the baby is in critical condition. The second victim arrived later at the hospital and his foot wound was treated, the complaint states.

Robinson has a history of felony assaults dating back to 2009 and is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

View the criminal complaint against Robinson (PDF).