Plea Deal For Man Charged in Death of Minnesota Firefighter
Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - The man accused of triggering a gun fight outside a crowded Minneapolis nightclub that resulted in the death of an off duty firefighter has worked out a plea deal with Hennepin County prosecutors.
According to court records, 28-year-old Marquise Trevone Hammonds-Ford was with a group of people that had gathered across the street from a party celebrating the anniversary of the founding of a motorcycle club that was taking place in the parking lot next to the Cabooze Bar. It was alleged that the Monticello man pulled out a handgun that had been modified into a fully automatic weapon and equipped with an extended magazine, which he fired over the heads of the partygoers across the street.
The criminal complaint says the volley of bullets prompted an exchange of gunfire between people on both sides of the street. The shooting victim, 40-year-old Joseph Johns, was standing outside of the bar directing traffic when he was struck by one of the bullets fired in the rapid exchange of gunfire.
Johns was an off-duty firefighter for both the Eagan and Eden Prairie Fire Departments.
Police reports issued in the aftermath of the deadly incident indicated that investigators found more than 60 spent shell casings from multiple firearms at the crime scene.
Hammonds-Ford was charged with first-degree riot resulting in the death of a person, possession of a machine gun or machine gun conversion kit, and illegal possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence. Under state law, the riot charge and the machine gun crime each carried maximum penalties of 20 years in prison.
Under the terms of a plea agreement filed in Hennepin County Court this week, Hammonds-Ford has agreed to enter a guilty plea to the charge of illegal possession of a firearm. In exchange, the two other charges will be dismissed.
The firearms violation care is a presumptive sentence of five years in prison, but the plea agreement calls for a sentence of 78 months. Hammonds-Ford is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross