Plea Deal For Rochester Shooting Connected to Treatment of Dog

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former Rochester man accused of firing nearly two dozen rounds during a shooting in Rochester in 2024 could end up in prison for nearly eight years.

Plea Deal Reached Just Before His Trial

40-year-old Christopher Edward Coleman, who now has an Owatonna address, was scheduled to stand trial next week on three counts of second-degree assault and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. Instead, he has entered into a plea agreement and admitted to the illegal possession of a firearm charge in exchange for the dismissal of the felony assault charges.

Prosecutors Want 8 Year Prison Sentence

Under the terms of his plea deal, the Olmsted County Attorney's Office will request an aggravated sentence of 90 months in prison, while Coleman's defense attorney will argue for a 60-month prison term.

Nearly Two Dozen Bullets Fired

According to the charges against Coleman, Rochester police responded to a report of a shooting outside the Andover Apartments in the 1900 block of 8½ Street Southeast on the night of July 29, 2024. When they arrived at the scene, the officers found 23 spent shell casings.

Confronted Over Treatment of Dog

The criminal complaint says witnesses told police they were standing outside the apartments when they confronted Coleman about the treatment of a dog. The court document says Coleman was seen walking the dog and then slapping the animal.

Following the confrontation, the witnesses reported that Coleman became angry and left the area but later returned holding what a witness described as a hooded sweatshirt in a conspicuous manner. The witnesses then stated that gunfire suddenly erupted from what one witness believed was an assault-style rifle.

Arrested Following Traffic Stop

Coleman was later apprehended during a traffic stop conducted by Olmsted County Sheriff's Office deputies near the Highway 52 and Marion Road Southeast interchange. The criminal complaint says he was accompanied by a family member at the time of his arrest.

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Dog and Ammo Found in Apartment

Court documents say investigators obtained a search warrant for a residence in the Andover Apartments and found two firearm magazines loaded with ammunition that matched the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting. They also found the dog that Coleman was seen slapping before the confrontation and shooting, but the firearm was not located.

Previous Convictions

Court records indicate Coleman was convicted of a felony firearm violation in Mower County in 2018 and felony domestic assault in Olmsted County in 2015.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.