At least three more Minnesotans were charged this week for their involvement in the destruction of Minneapolis.
On Monday, U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald announced that 25-year-old Montez Terrill Lee of Rochester was charged with arson for starting a pawn shop on fire. According to a criminal complaint, surveillance video showed a masked man, later identified as Lee, pouring liquid from a metal container throughout the pawn shop on the night of May 28.
“[Expletive] this place. We’re gonna burn this [expletive] down,” Lee was heard saying in a second video while he stood in front of the burning pawn shop.
Dylan Shakespeare Robinson, a 22-year-old from Brainerd, and Bryce Michael Williams, a 26-year-old from Staples, were both charged in connection to the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct fire. Robinson was identified in a video posted to his Snapchat account in which he could be seen starting a fire in a stairwell in the Third Precinct.
Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also were able to identify Robinson in surveillance footage from the Third Precinct, according to MacDonald’s office. He was arrested in Denver, Colorado on June 14 apparently after attempting to evade capture.
Like Robinson, Williams was identified in videos posted to social media. In one of the videos, Williams could be seen standing in front of the burning Third Precinct building wearing clothing consistent with the clothing he was seen wearing in surveillance footage from the Third Precinct. In one surveillance tape, he was spotted holding a Molotov cocktail while others attempted to light the wick, according to a press release.
Williams faces one count of conspiracy to commit arson, while Robinson was charged with aiding and abetting arson.
ATF announced a $70,000 reward this week for information that leads to the identification and apprehension of 14 additional suspects ($5,000 each) connected to various arson cases throughout the Twin Cities.
“We have methodically worked each of the fire scenes, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing video footage to help us solve these arson cases,” said Special Agent in Charge William Henderson of the St. Paul Field Division. “We’ve narrowed in on particular individuals who we suspect started one or more fires throughout the Twin Cities. We would appreciate any assistance the public is willing to provide in order to bring these investigations to a successful conclusion.”
Three others were charged last week for their involvement in the riots. One St. Paul man was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at police officers during the unrest.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
