Shooting Suspect Arrested on Bench Warrant Released Without Bail

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The suspect in a 2022 shooting in Rochester was released without bail again following his arrest last Friday on a warrant that was issued after he skipped a court hearing earlier in the week.

21-year-old Demontae Latrell Simmons is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted first-degree aggravated robbery, and a gross misdemeanor count of possession of a firearm without a permit. He was released without bail after he was formally charged in the case in July 2022 and an arrest warrant was issued for him a week ago after he failed to appear for a required hearing in Olmsted County Court.

According to court documents, Simmons and another man allegedly attempted to rob a man and woman while they were in a vehicle that was parked in the 400 block of 11th Street Southeast on the night of May 2, 2022. The victim told police that he had parked at the location after arranging to meet someone to sell them marijuana.

The criminal complaint says the shooting occurred after one of the would-be robbers broke out a window in the victim's vehicle and he began to drive away. One of the bullets entered the victim's pickup and struck his ankle.

Rochester police also reported finding several bullet holes on the exterior of the vehicle and six spent shell casings in the same area.

Simmons was first arrested in the case about two months later after police executed search warrants at two residences as part of their investigation. Court records indicate the officers involved in the arrest seized a loaded handgun that matched the victim's description of the gun used in the attempted robbery. The victim also identified Simmons as the person who was carrying the gun.

He is now scheduled to return to court in late April for a pretrial hearing. His trial is tentatively scheduled to begin in early May.

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