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Charges unsealed against alleged getaway driver for man who killed 2 in Dinkytown tobacco shop

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Charges unsealed against alleged getaway driver for man who killed 2 in Dinkytown tobacco shop


Prosecutors on Tuesday made public charges filed six months ago against a man police are trying to find who allegedly was the getaway driver for the gunman accused of killing two people in a Dinkytown tobacco shop.

Taynard Town Deshawn Godsey, 26, of Minneapolis, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with four counts of aiding an offender after the fact, in connection with the suspected gang-related shooting at Royal Cigar Tobacco on Dec. 3 that also wounded a store clerk with a bullet intended for another.

The men who died were identified as Bryson Lamarr Haskell and Jamartre Michael Sanders, both 24 and from Minneapolis.

The alleged shooter, 26-year-old Maleek Jabril Conley, of Minneapolis, was arrested in Chicago in March on two charges each of second-degree murder and attempted murder. He remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail and has a court hearing scheduled for June 28.

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The court kept the criminal complaint against Godsey, filed five days after the killings, under wraps out of law enforcement’s concern that he would evade arrest if he knew he had been charged. The complaint was unsealed soon after police turned to social media Friday for help finding Godsey.

Godsey is “believed to be in Minnesota or Arizona,” a police Facebook posting read. “He has worked as a model in the past and may be using a fake name or ID.”

Gunfire erupted in the shop after a brawl broke out between two groups of people in the tiny, family-owned smoke shop at SE. 4th Street and 14th Avenue near the University of Minnesota about 2:15 a.m., before a posted closing time of 3 a.m. Video depicted a melee involving at least seven men, with two of them exchanging punches on the floor as products spilled from shelves.

According to the charges against Godsey and Conley:

Haskell and Sanders were shot in the head and neck several times while the store clerk was struck in the buttocks by a stray bullet. The clerk told police the victims were with one of the groups that got into an argument and a fistfight that he and other employees tried to stop. But Conley entered the store and unleashed a barrage of semiautomatic gunfire.

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Video corroborated the clerk’s account and revealed that Conley fired directly at Haskell and Sanders while standing 3 feet away. Conley also fired at least twice at a fourth victim from close range but missed, wounding the clerk.

Godsey was involved in the fistfight and was standing near Conley as the gunfire erupted.

A store employee pressed a panic button that locked everyone inside. When Conley realized this, he shot out a glass door and crawled through the metal frame, followed by four accomplices. All five men ran to a stolen Kia and fled the scene with Godsey behind the wheel.

The stolen Kia was found outside a suspect’s apartment building in the 2400 block of Elliot Avenue. Surveillance video from the apartment showed all five men at the site 15 minutes after the shooting.

Three among the five are known members of a south Minneapolis street gang. Investigators say that Haskell and Sanders were associated with a north Minneapolis street gang, and they believe the killings stemmed from a rivalry.

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Police described Godsey as black, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds. They said he has light brown hair styled in short dreadlocks, freckles on his face, and both of his ears are pierced. He has a birthmark on his right arm and multiple tattoos on his left forearm and upper arm, police added.

“If you see Taynard, call 911 immediately and DO NOT approach him,” the posting continued. Anyone with information about Godsey’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact police through policetips@minneapolismn.gov or by calling 612-673-5845. Tips can also be given to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). All tips are anonymous, and information leading to Godsey’s arrest may result in a reward.



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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis police investigating 3 shootings within 20 minutes

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Minneapolis police investigating 3 shootings within 20 minutes


Minneapolis police say they are investigating three separate, unrelated shootings that happened within the span of about 20 minutes Thursday night.

Minneapolis police say they are investigating three separate, unrelated shootings that happened within the span of about 20 minutes Thursday night.

Minneapolis shootings

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What we know:

Authorities responded to a shooting at about 6:29 p.m. on the 400 block of Taylor Street NE. 

Less than 10 minutes later, police responded to a shooting on the 2000 block of West River Road.

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At about 6:46 p.m., police responded to a shooting on the 800 block of Franklin Ave. E.

Police say their preliminary information indicates each shooting had one victim. All injuries appear to be non-life threatening.

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Shootings not connected

What we don’t know:

Police say in their investigation, it doesn’t appear that the three shootings are related. Authorities have not made any arrests.

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The incidents remain under investigation.

Crime and Public SafetyMinneapolis



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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis City Council votes to extend eviction notice period

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Minneapolis City Council votes to extend eviction notice period



The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday voted to temporarily extend the eviction notice period for renters in an effort to help support residents impacted by Operation Metro Surge.

Under the ordinance, which was approved 7-5, landlords would need to wait 60 days — not the typical 30 — before bringing an eviction notice to a renter. If approved by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the 60-day requirement would stay in effect until Aug. 31.

Supporters of the ordinance said Operation Metro Surge left residents out of work and relying on mutual aid networks to pay rent.

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“Preventing eviction is always more cost-effective than trying to re-house someone who has been evicted,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley, who represents Ward 2.

Wonsley, alongside members Elliott Payne, Jamal Osman, Aisha Chughtai, Soren Stevenson, Jason Chavez and Aurin Chowdhury voted in favor of the resolution. Council member Jamison Whiting abstained from voting.

The city estimates Operation Metro Surge led to an additional $15.7 million in monthly need for rental support. Last month, council members approved $1 million in rental assistance for Hennepin County to help families impacted by the surge. 



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Minneapolis man arrested in Manchester after allegedly trying to meet minor for sex

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Minneapolis man arrested in Manchester after allegedly trying to meet minor for sex


A Minnesota man has been arrested in Manchester after police say he attempted to meet someone he believed was a minor for sexual activity.

The Manchester Police Department said Robert Fenn Eselby III, 23, of Minneapolis was arrested Feb. 27 following an undercover investigation.

According to police, Eselby contacted an undercover officer posing as a juvenile through several social media platforms. Authorities said he was informed multiple times that the person he was communicating with was underage.

Investigators say Eselby sent explicit photos and videos and later arranged to travel to Manchester to meet the supposed minor for sexual activity.

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Police said Eselby was taken into custody immediately after arriving in Manchester and was transported to the Delaware County Jail.

Authorities also said Eselby allegedly attempted to ask an arresting officer out on a date during the booking process.

Eselby faces one count of grooming, a Class D felony, and one count of disseminating obscene material to a minor, a serious misdemeanor.

Court records show he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.



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