Minneapolis, MN – A peaceful night turned traumatic for a 79-year-old woman who was struck by a stray bullet while sitting in her living room in Minneapolis. Authorities have now charged two individuals in connection with the reckless shooting.
Elderly Woman Wounded While at Home
Just after midnight on Sunday, August 17, Minneapolis police responded to a shooting on 31st Street East near Powderhorn Park. Inside the home, officers discovered the elderly woman suffering from a gunshot wound to her stomach. According to police, the woman was relaxing in her living room when she heard a loud bang and was immediately overcome by pain.
Separate 911 calls had also reported gunfire in the neighborhood around the same time as per reports.
Witnesses Describe High-Speed Chase Before Gunfire
Eyewitnesses told police they observed two vehicles speeding through the area near 31st Street and 17th Avenue South. They recalled hearing a woman scream angrily, followed by a single gunshot.
One witness spotted a gray SUV and a black SUV chasing each other. The black SUV’s driver was reportedly seen brandishing a firearm. Unfortunately, the chaotic gunplay would result in innocent bystanders being harmed.
Surveillance Footage Links Gray SUV to the Shooting
Crucial evidence came from surveillance footage retrieved from the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church on 17th Avenue South. The video shows the gray SUV spinning sideways in the street before a shot was fired from the passenger side, directly facing the victim’s home.
Moments later, the SUV hit a yield sign before speeding westbound. The black SUV, apparently being pursued, appeared shortly thereafter.
Two Suspects Charged in Connection
Police have charged Jamaul Graham, 52, and Kitanna Fawn Crowell, 26, with first-degree assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. Additionally, Graham faces a firearm possession charge, as he has a prior felony conviction from 1998 for a controlled substance offense, which prohibited him from owning a gun.
Investigation Unfolds with Vehicle and Weapon Traces
Police recovered parts of a fog light from the damaged yield sign, leading them to a GMC Yukon seen on license plate readers just ten blocks away. That same Yukon had been stopped in June with Graham behind the wheel. Graham was also under investigation by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office for other gun and drug charges.
Using cell phone data, authorities tracked Graham to Maplewood Mall, and shortly after, located the Yukon at the Midway Motel in St. Paul. Officers found Crowell in the passenger seat and Graham driving. The Yukon’s fog light damage matched the debris found at the crime scene, and a .45 caliber Kahr pistol recovered from the vehicle was confirmed as the weapon that injured the woman.
Changing Stories and Confessions
Initially, Crowell confessed to firing the shot, claiming she did so to frighten the driver of the pursuing vehicle, not to cause harm. She stated Graham had maneuvered the SUV so she could fire. Later, she reversed her statement, blaming Graham for pulling the trigger while she rolled the window down.
In a third version, Crowell again claimed she fired the shot, believing falsely that this would lead to leniency from police.
Graham, on the other hand, refused to name the shooter but admitted the gun would likely have his DNA and fingerprints on it. He claimed he was holding the gun for someone else and denied ownership.
Public Reaction and Police Response
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed outrage at a press conference:
“All acts of violence in our community are troubling, but especially random acts when someone is sitting in the comfort of their home. And particularly when they affect the elderly or the youth in our community are that much more egregious and offensive to everyone.”
This shooting was one of four that took place in Minneapolis that night, highlighting continued concerns over gun violence in the area.
What do you think about this troubling rise in urban violence? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
