Desean Solomon sentenced to 438-month prison term for murder in deadly shootout

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced that today Desean James Solomon, 32, of Richfield, was sentenced to 438 months in prison after being convicted of murder after a shootout in a busy area of north Minneapolis June 14, 2020, that killed one person, injured six other people, and involved more 100 shots fired from 12 different firearms. Solomon has a lengthy criminal history and is a known Bloods gang member. Solomon was convicted March 10, 2023, following a jury trial.

“This was a horrific, chaotic scene and I am grateful for a strong investigation that allowed us to hold Mr. Solomon accountable for this violence,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Mr. Solomon has a lengthy criminal history but the community will now be safe from him for a long time. These are the results the public can expect as we continue to aggressively prosecute those who commit this sort of violence."

According to the criminal complaint, on June 14, 2020, a man was robbed inside the Broadway Pub, 200 Broadway Avenue Northeast, by a Bloods gang member known as “Skits.” Video shows the robbery victim going into the bathroom at the pub and a short time later, it shows him being thrown out of the bathroom. Not long after the robbery victim left the bar, Solomon and two others exit the bathroom. Sometime after that, a running gun battle begins. Surveillance footage from the area where the shooting occurred shows Solomon on 2nd Street North, near Broadway, firing a handgun to the south.

Additional surveillance video shows the murder victim getting into a vehicle traveling south, then turning around to pass by Solomon’s vehicle. When the vehicles meet, Solomon gets out of his vehicle and begins firing a .9mm handgun multiple times at the victim’s vehicle as it drives by to the north. As Solomon is shooting, the victim is struck in the head by a .9mm bullet. MPD crime lab mapping of evidence collected shows .9mm discharged cartridge casings where Solomon was shooting from. The victim struck in the head was transported to Hennepin Healthcare prior to police arrival and died after arriving at the hospital.

Desean Solomon Criminal Complaint (PDF)