MN CRIME, Saint Paul, MN (2025)

12/26/2025

A Saint Paul man is facing a felony assault charge after he allegedly pointed a rifle at his wife and threatened to kill her inside their home late Tuesday night.

Shoua Xiong, 46, is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon stemming from an incident reported around 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 23 at a residence in the 100 block of Front Avenue.

According to the criminal complaint, a woman called 911 to report that her husband had pointed a firearm at her and threatened to shoot her.

Officers arrived and spoke with Xiong’s wife outside the home. She told police the couple had returned earlier that evening from a Christmas celebration at a family member’s home and that Xiong was extremely intoxicated. After getting home, they realized one of their children had friends over without advance notice. She said Xiong became upset about the unannounced guests and went into a bedroom closet, where he retrieved a rifle.

The complaint says she asked Xiong what he was doing and told him to put the rifle away, but he ignored her. Xiong inserted a magazine into the rifle, slung it over his shoulder and left the bedroom. He later encountered one of their sons downstairs. A short time later, the son returned to the bedroom with the firearm Xiong had been carrying.

The woman told police she removed the magazine from that rifle and hid it on her side of the bed, then placed the rifle under a dresser. When Xiong returned to the bedroom looking for the firearm, the two argued about its location. Xiong then retrieved a different rifle from the closet and placed it on the bed. She again removed the magazine. Xiong demanded it back, but she refused.

According to the complaint, Xiong then walked to the corner of the bedroom and inserted another magazine. His wife reported hearing what sounded like him chambering a round. She told police Xiong pointed the rifle at her and threatened to kill her. She grabbed her phone and called 911. Xiong eventually put the firearm into a black case on the bed. She also recorded video showing Xiong in possession of fi****ms inside the home.

Police also spoke with one of the couple’s sons, who said he was in the basement when he heard what he described as a gun “racking” sound. He told officers he saw Xiong walk downstairs with an AR-style rifle slung over his shoulder. The son said he got into a physical altercation with his father and gained control of the rifle. He reported smelling alcohol on Xiong and believed he was intoxicated. The son removed the magazine and said it did not contain ammunition before giving the rifle to his mother.

A Hmong-speaking officer later spoke with Xiong by phone. Xiong told police the house had previously been shot at and said he became upset when he returned home and saw his son had friends over. He claimed he wanted the friends to leave and argued with his wife about it. When asked about the firearm, Xiong denied there was any issue involving a gun. He agreed to exit the home and was taken into custody. He declined to participate in a custodial interview.

Police executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered two rifles along with additional firearm-related items. A rifle cartridge was also found on the stairway leading to the second floor.

Xiong is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine or both.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/26/2025

SAINT PAUL: Larpenteur Ave. E. & Wanda St. – Crews are on scene of a two-vehicle, head-on crash, with Larpenteur Ave. closed in both directions. One driver, a 55-year-old woman, suffered possible serious injuries and a trauma team was activated at the hospital, per initial radio dispatches. The second driver, a 50-year-old man, reported shoulder and leg pain. Traffic is being diverted while responders clear the scene.

12/26/2025

A man is expected to survive after being found shot Friday in Roseville, according to police.

Authorities say officers were called to the 2700 block of Merrill Street after getting a report of an adult male with a gunshot wound to the leg.

First responders provided medical care at the scene before the man was taken to a hospital for further treatment. Police said his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Investigators say the case remains active, but based on information gathered so far, all people believed to be involved have been identified. A suspect is in custodyand police said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Officials added they are not looking for any additional suspects at this time.

Police also addressed online discussion about the incident, stating they are aware of information circulating on social media and will release additional details if and when new information can be shared. The suspect has not yet been publicly named or formally charged.

Anyone with information related to the shooting is asked to contact the Roseville Police Department at (651) 792-7008.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/26/2025

Charges have been filed after a Christmas Eve crash and foot chase in Mounds View led officers to freshly cut catalytic converters and a cache of theft tools.

Christ Hae, 24, of Saint Paul, and Han Do Wah, 19, of Woodbury, are each charged with felony possession of burglary or theft tools for the string of events that ended early Wednesday morning.

The investigation began earlier on Tuesday, Dec. 23, when Maplewood police responded late in the morning to a report of a catalytic converter theft at a home. A man told officers he had seen three unknown men wearing masks and gloves remove the catalytic converter from his neighbor’s vehicle about an hour earlier. He reported the men arrived in a silver Acura and provided photos to police. Officers later confirmed with the neighbor that the catalytic converter had been stolen.

Several hours later, around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, Mounds View police spotted a silver Acura parked in the lot of an apartment complex at 2670 Scotland Court. Officers observed two people inside the vehicle, the court documents say, and the Acura pulled into a parking stall facing the building. It was boxed in by parked vehicles on both sides and officers pulled in behind it with emergency lights activated.

According to the complaint, the driver began repeatedly backing up and pulling forward in an apparent attempt to get away. The driver eventually backed hard into a parked vehicle, causing significant damage. Both occupants then ran from the vehicle. Police say the Acura had been left in drive and rolled forward, striking a second parked vehicle.

Officers pursued both occupants on foot. One was detained and identified as Wah and the second was later located hiding underneath a vehicle, identified as Hae. Neither man was the registered owner of the Acura, according to the complaint.

The Acura was towed from the scene and searched as part of an inventory. Inside, officers located two catalytic converters that appeared to have been freshly cut. Police also recovered a power saw with multiple replacement blades, several power drills, a floor jack, rubber gloves, insulated gloves and a face mask. Wah’s keys and phone were found in the passenger-side door pocket.

Both Wah and Hae declined to make statements to investigators, according to the complaint. The felony possession charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both.

Court records show Hae has an extensive criminal history in Ramsey County, including multiple felony convictions: for theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree assault involving a dangerous weapon and threats of violence. His record also includes multiple weapons-related convictions at the gross misdemeanor level.

The charging documents note the catalytic converter theft reported earlier in Maplewood and the attempt to flee from officers in Mounds View remain under investigation. Prosecutors say additional charges may be filed as the case continues.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/26/2025

𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚’𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭

Last year’s legislative session produced some of the most significant changes to Minnesota gun laws in a generation.

Driven by the tragic 2024 Burnsville shooting—where three first responders were killed with guns obtained through straw purchases, equipped with high-rate-of-fire devices—these laws have now been in effect for nearly one full year.

- The Felony Upgrade for 'Straw Buying' -

Previously, buying a gun for someone who isn't allowed to have one (a "straw purchase") was often just a gross misdemeanor.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆: Under MN Statute 624.713, this is now a felony.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 '𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻' 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱: This is a critical shift. Prosecutors no longer have to prove you knew the person was a felon. They only have to prove that a “reasonable person” would have known. This makes it much easier to charge girlfriends, boyfriends or friends who claim they “had no idea” about the recipient’s criminal past.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲: The law added a protection for victims of domestic violence. If a person was coerced or threatened into making the purchase for an abuser, they can use an “affirmative defense” to avoid conviction.

- The Binary Trigger Ban -

Starting from Jan 1, 2025, binary triggers—devices that fire a round on both the pull and the release of a trigger—were illegal to possess in Minnesota.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆: Possession was a felony that carried up to 20 years in prison.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 '𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻' 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲: Unlike some state buybacks, Minnesota provided no compensation to owners who surrendered these devices, requiring they be destroyed or moved out-of-state.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: While the ban on binary triggers was set to change the lives of gun owners on Jan. 1, 2025, the legal landscape shifted dramatically in late summer. In the case of Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus v. Walz, a Ramsey County District Court judge ruled that the ban was unconstitutional—not because of the Second Amendment, but because of how the law was passed.

The Minnesota Constitution contains a "single-subject" clause, which mandates that every law must focus on one clear topic to prevent "logrolling" (the practice of hiding controversial policies inside massive, unrelated bills). The judge agreed with the plaintiffs that tucking a firearm ban into a 1,400-page tax and spending omnibus bill was a clear violation of this rule.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: As of late 2025, the binary trigger ban is not enforceable.

The District County judge issued a permanent injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law. While the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has appealed the ruling to the Minnesota Supreme Court, the ban remains "dead" for the time being.

This ruling has sent shockwaves through the State Capitol, as it threatens the legality of other policies tucked into that same "mega-bill" and puts the legislature on notice regarding their use of omnibus packages.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/26/2025

WHITE BEAR LAKE: 18xx Richard Ct. - A second alarm has been requested for an attached garage fire that has extended into the attic. First arriving crews reported heavy fire from the garage and have been working to keep it from spreading into the home. Multiple fire departments are on scene but no injuries have been reported. The Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team is also responding.

12/26/2025

ROSEVILLE: 27xx Merrill St. - Officers are on scene of a shooting after the victim stated they were shot inside a residence. Police say the victim is conscious and breathing. Medics have been cleared in and no suspect information has been released.

LATEST DETAILS: https://www.mncrime.com/latest/man-shot-in-leg-in-roseville-suspect-in-custody

UPDATE: A Roseville PD spokesperson says the gunshot victim, an adult male, is expected to survive his injury. Based on initial information, police say all individuals involved in the incident have been identified and a suspect is currently in custody. Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public and the suspect has not yet been identified.

LATEST DETAILS: https://www.mncrime.com/latest/man-shot-in-leg-in-roseville-suspect-in-custody

12/26/2025

A man placed on a hospital hold ran from an Wyoming, Minn., emergency department on Christmas Day and later injured a hospital security officer during a confrontation.

Police say the incident unfolded at about 5:23 p.m. on Dec. 25 after officers were dispatched to the Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming for a report of a patient who had left the emergency department after being placed on a hold.

A Wyoming police officer located the 35-year-old man in the hospital parking lot, where he was described as non-compliant and physically resistant during a prolonged encounter before he was taken into custody. Authorities say no deadly force was used.

According to police, the man is alleged to have assaulted a member of the hospital’s security staff before officers arrived. The injured security officer was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment. As of publication, officials have not released information on the severity of the injuries and the officer’s name has not yet been made public.

The man was transported to M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center for evaluation following the incident. Because of his medical status, authorities have not released his name.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting with the investigation. Officials said additional information will be released when it becomes available.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/25/2025

Two separate Christmas Eve shootings left one woman and one man hospitalized in Minneapolis, with investigators now working to learn what led up to both.

The first shooting was reported at about 3:50 p.m. on Dec. 24 in the 800 block of Franklin Avenue East.

Third Precinct officers were heading to the area after a ShotSpotter activation when they learned the victim had already transported herself to Hennepin Healthcare Hospital.

Officers met with the woman at the hospital and determined she had suffered an apparent non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Officers then canvassed the area tied to the ShotSpotter activation and located evidence of gunfire. Minneapolis Forensic Scientists responded to process the scene as investigators began working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

About 26 minutes later, at 4:18 p.m., a second shooting was reported in the 600 block of Elmwood Avenue North.

Fourth Precinct officers responded to reports of gunfire and found a man suffering from apparent life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was treated at the scene and transported by EMS to Hennepin Healthcare Hospital. Investigators are working to determine what led up to that shooting as well. No arrests have been made in either incident as of publication.

Authorities have not released any suspect information in either case. Investigation into both incidents remains ongoing.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/25/2025

Why a Judge Erased a $7 Million Fraud Conviction

In November 2025, Hennepin County Judge Sarah West ignited a firestorm by overturning the conviction of Abdifatah Yusuf.

A jury had spent four hours convicting Yusuf of aiding and abetting a $7.2 million Medicaid fraud scheme involving his business, Promise Health.

Despite a mountain of evidence showing Yusuf spent stolen funds on luxury cars and designer clothes, Judge West entered a Judgment of Acquittal, effectively erasing the jury's work.

The Power of Rule 26.03

While juries are the primary "finders of fact" in our system, Minnesota Rule of Criminal Procedure 26.03, subd. 18 gives judges a "safety valve." If a judge believes the evidence is legally insufficient to support a conviction, they can step in. Usually, this happens before a jury deliberates. Doing it after a guilty verdict is returned—as happened here—is a legal "nuclear option" that suggests the prosecution failed to meet the bare minimum of proof required by law.

The ‘Sins of the Brother’ Defense

The crux of the acquittal rested on Yusuf’s brother, Mohamed Yusuf. The defense argued that while massive fraud undoubtedly occurred at Promise Health, it was Mohamed who orchestrated the billing while Abdifatah was merely an "absentee owner."

The Judge's View: Judge West wrote that the state failed to prove Abdifatah knowingly participated. She noted that while the fraud was "troubling," there was a "reasonable, rational inference" that the brother committed the crime alone.

The Jury’s View: Jury foreperson Ben Walfoort told KARE 11 that the decision to convict was "not difficult whatsoever" and that they were "shocked" by the judge's reversal, citing the "obvious guilt" they saw in the evidence.

The Political Fallout and Appeal

This case has transcended the courtroom. State Senator Michael Holmstrom recently labeled Judge West a "true extremist" and demanded the unsealing of all case records. Meanwhile, Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a rare appeal.

While the state usually cannot appeal an acquittal due to "Double Jeopardy," they can appeal when a judge throws out a jury's verdict post-trial. If the Court of Appeals agrees with Ellison, the jury's original guilty verdict could be reinstated.

Sources: State of Minnesota vs. Abdifatah Yusuf (Hennepin County Case No. 27-CR-24-12962), KARE 11: "Hennepin County Judge tosses out jury's guilty verdict" (Nov 2025), MN Rules of Crim. Proc. 26.03.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/25/2025

A Minneapolis man already facing criminal sexual conduct and robbery charges is now charged in a separate Ramsey County case alleging he tried to pay a victim to avoid testifying.

Dalvin Jarrell Crockett, 24, is charged with felony bribery for allegedly arranging and directing an effort to influence a witness connected to his pending sexual assault case.

Court records show Crockett was already charged in Ramsey County with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree aggravated robbery stemming from a Feb. 8, 2024 incident at a hotel on the 1900 block of University Avenue West in Saint Paul. In that case, investigators say a woman reported she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint after arranging to meet Crockett. Authorities allege he was armed, threatened her with a firearm and later took property from the victim before leaving.

According to the criminal complaint, Crockett is currently in state custody after being convicted in a separate Hennepin County case involving another victim. That offense occurred three days before the Ramsey County assault and also involved r**e and robbery.

The new bribery charge centers on contact made with the victim while she was hospitalized after giving birth. Investigators say a woman went to the hospital with a child and introduced herself under a different name, offering to help the victim during the holidays. The two exchanged phone numbers.

In the days that followed, the victim received messages and calls offering money if she did not appear in court. According to investigators, the offer was for $1,500 and later increased to $2,000. The victim reported the contact to police, saying she was frightened and believed the offer was tied to the pending sexual assault case.

Investigators determined the phone numbers used in the communications were linked to Owens and another woman. Both were listed as approved visitors for Crockett while he was in custody. Jail call recordings show Crockett repeatedly contacting them using other inmates’ identification numbers and directing how the conversations with the victim should occur.

According to transcripts summarized in the complaint, Crockett discussed how the approach should be framed, encouraged persistence and discussed offering money to prevent the victim from testifying. Investigators say he coached the women on what to say and how to avoid drawing attention, including discussing how to explain the contact and how much money to offer.

Police say the woman later admitted she went to the hospital and attempted to speak with the victim about not going to court and acknowledged that the money was meant to influence testimony. She was arrested in connection with the investigation.

Court records show Crockett made more than 1,000 phone calls to the woman over a six-month period and dozens to the second number used during the effort. Investigators also documented calls in which Crockett discussed the plan in coded language and referenced the upcoming court case.

In the underlying Ramsey County case, police say the Feb. 8, 2024 assault occurred after Crockett entered the victim’s hotel room and displayed a firearm. Investigators allege he ordered the victim to comply, sexually assaulted her, recorded the assault and later searched her belongings. After leaving, he continued contacting her by phone. Police later recovered fi****ms, masks and other items during a search of his residence.

Crockett was arrested and later admitted to being at the hotel that night but denied committing sexual assault, according to the complaint. He also admitted to committing multiple robberies involving escorts in the weeks surrounding the incident.

In the new bribery case, a judge found probable cause and ordered Crockett held on $500,000 bail. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.

BY MN CRIME STAFF
See more at MNCRIME.com

12/25/2025

MINNEAPOLIS: Franklin Ave. E. & Chicago Ave. - Police are on scene of a stabbing at a bus shelter after a man in his 50s called to report he had been stabbed. Paramedics found him with two stab wounds: one to the abdomen and one to the leg. He was conscious and breathing while being transported to the hospital by paramedics, per initial radio dispatches.

Police described a possible suspect as a black female wearing black leggings, shiny black shoes, a black bag and an extremely fuzzy coat. She was last seen fleeing eastbound on foot after the stabbing.

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