Teen charged in mass shooting at LGBTQ+ friendly punk rock show in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS– A teenage suspect who allegedly made derogatory comments about LGBTQ+ people before opening fire at a backyard punk rock show is facing seven charges in connection with a shooting that left one person dead and six others injured in Minneapolis.
The document charging Dominic James Burris and another man says the shooting was motivated by prejudice about the victims’ gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
“Witnesses identified the gathering as an LGBTQ+ friendly community and the victims included people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer,” the complaint said. “Witnesses identified the shooters as two men who were not part of the community but who had come to the concert and had interacted with several people in the minutes before the shooting.”
Burris, who turned 18 last week, appeared in juvenile court Tuesday on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree intentional homicide and six counts of assault with a firearm, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Burris’ mother, brother and public defender Camille Bryant declined comment after the hearing.
A second teen is facing similar charges after being identified through DNA testing of a cigarette butt, but he is not in custody and his whereabouts are unknown, according to the complaint.
Musician and songwriter Nicholas Trevor Golden, also known as August Golden, died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Golden, 35, played in the punk band Scrounger and was heavily involved in the punk scene in Minneapolis and other cities. Another shooting victim suffered injuries to his intestines, liver and a kidney that had to be removed, the complaint said.
The shooting took place on August 11 during a pop-up punk rock show that was also a birthday party. Gunfire rang out as a band ended the show in front of an audience of 30 to 50 people.
“This shooting on what should have been a joyful occasion has shocked our LGBTQIA+ community and increased fear among a community that has been under attack all too often,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said at a news conference.
Although Minnesota does not have a standalone hate crime charge, defendants could face aggravating charges and stiffer penalties if the crime was motivated by bias. It is not yet known whether prosecutors will seek these upgraded charges. Prosecutors also have not yet decided whether Burris will be certified as an adult, Moriarty said.
Some witnesses at the party said they heard the suspects “using derogatory epithets regarding the sexual orientation of the concertgoers,” according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, about a minute after the suspects left the party, gunshots rang out. According to the criminal complaint, officers found nine fired shell casings from two different firearms in a neighboring yard.
A witness told investigators he saw someone in a red hooded sweatshirt running through the alley and another person in a black hoodie peeking around a corner of the alley, while another identified Burris wearing the red hoodie, the investigators say. indictment.