A teenager accused in a fatal shooting at the Mall of America in Minnesota was arrested Tuesday at a DeKalb County home, officials said.
Lavon Longstreet, 17, is the fourth teen to be charged in the Dec. 23 shooting, according to the Bloomington Police Department. He is facing charges of second-degree murder and second-degree assault after being arrested at an apartment complex on Kenridge Parkway just outside of Decatur, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
“This is another example of guns being placed in the hands of immature young people, resulting in deadly consequences in what was once safe public places,” U.S. Marshal Thomas Brown said.
A dispute between two groups led to an exchange of gunfire at the Minneapolis mall shortly before 8 p.m. The entire incident lasted about 30 seconds.
Johntae Hudson, 19, was shot at least eight times and died inside Nordstrom, AP News reported. A bystander’s jacket was also grazed by a bullet during the shooting.
“Johntae was the most loving and caring person to his family and friends. He radiated positive and fun energy and his smile lit up the room,” a relative of the victim wrote in a GoFundMe campaign.
Credit: GoFundMe
Credit: GoFundMe
According to AP News, police found shell casings near Hudson’s body and a .40 caliber firearm that was “determined to be associated” with the victim. Mall surveillance caught the altercation on video, which erupted into a fistfight before one person pulled out a gun and began firing, police said.
The Mall of America went into a lockdown for about an hour. Videos posted on social media showed people hiding in stores, and an announcement in the mall warned people to seek shelter, according to AP News.
Taeshawn Adams Wright, 18, of Minneapolis, is also accused in the shooting and was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault Dec. 29, Bloomington police previously announced. Two 17-year-old boys were charged with second-degree riot, but their names were not released.
Longstreet is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail awaiting extradition to Hennepin County.
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