Drive-by Shooting In Rochester Leads To Probation Sentence

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The man convicted for a shooting in a Rochester neighborhood has been sentenced to jail and probation.

Rochester Man Sentenced for May 2025 Drive-By Shooting in Neighborhood

Rochester police responded to a report of a shooting in the 4400 block of Manor View Drive Northwest on the night of May 28 last year. No injuries were reported.

Witnesses reported hearing two volleys of gunfire before a silver pickup truck sped away without its headlights on.

One witness reported that the first volley of gunfire involved five gunshots and was followed by two more shots, the criminal complaint says.

A home surveillance camera video showed the vehicle entering the area where the shooting occurred and then speeding away with its lights off, the charges say.

Officers later found the vehicle parked a few blocks away from the shooting scene and observed a man identified as 35-year-old Jhovani Soto exiting it and walking away.

The criminal complaint indicates that, as the officers were pursuing him, the Rochester man attempted to climb under the deck at his residence.

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Handgun Among Items Found in Pickup

The arresting officers reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol coming from Soto. They also reported finding a Glock 9mm handgun in the pickup, along with four 9mm shell casings, the court document says.

The criminal complaint also says an empty bottle of alcohol was also located inside the vehicle.

Soto was charged with a felony count of drive-by shooting and gross misdemeanor charges of possessing a pistol in public without a permit, carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol, DWI and a misdemeanor count of illegal transport of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

Sentence in Line with Plea Agreement

In June he entered a plea agreement that resulted in a conviction for the drive-by shooting and DWI counts and the dismissal of the other charges.

Soto was sentenced Wednesday morning to five years probation and 90 days in Jail. He’s required to report to the Olmsted County Jail to serve the time behind bars by September 24.

Court records indicate the sentence abides by the prosecution’s recommendation, which was contingent on a presentence investigation determining Soto had a criminal history points score of zero.