A man who allegedly propositioned a woman, shot the man who intervened in the ensuing argument and returned later to shoot at the house where the woman lived was charged with second degree murder Friday, according to the Hennepin County attorney’s office.
Willie Brown Jr., 35, is accused of shooting Dwayne Hawkins, 29, of Minneapolis three times in the face and neck and leaving him on the street on the city’s north side.
Police responded to the shooting shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday, after the department’s shot spotter system alerted officers to gunfire in the 1900 block of Newton Avenue North. The system is comprised of noise sensitive equipment throughout the city for the purpose of listening for shots fired.
Police believe the shooting was the result of a confrontation between Brown and a group of men earlier in the week.
Brown was at a home in the 2900 block of Sheridan Avenue North on Tuesday evening with a group of people. Brown attempted to proposition a woman in the group, but was stopped by several men who were related to her. They argued with Brown, who eventually left the house, according to the criminal complaint.
Late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, Brown returned to the house and confronted the same men.
Hawkins drove up in a black Chevy Impala and broke up the argument. He and Brown drove away in the Impala, the complaint states.
At some point during the drive, Brown shot Hawkins and left his body on Newton Avenue, investigators say.
After finding Hawkins Thursday morning, police were still investigating when they were called to a shooting at the Sheridan Avenue residence. The woman told police Brown had driven by in the Impala and had fired several shots at her house.
Officers searched the area and found the Impala, its interior covered in blood. They soon found Brown walking in the neighborhood and arrested him. They also found two handguns that matched the type used to kill Hawkins and received surveillance video showing Brown dumping bloody clothes inside a car wash in Brooklyn Park.
Brown is expected to make his first court appearance Monday.