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Judge sentences Ryan Rooney to life in wife’s murder
Ryan Charles Rooney was convicted in the shooting death of his wife, 29-year-old Samantha Rose Columbus Boshey, inside an Eden Prairie hotel room.
MINNEAPOLIS — An Eden Prairie man will serve a life sentence for the shooting death of his wife inside a hotel room, a premeditated act prosecutors say was committed in front of her children.
Ryan Charles Rooney was convicted by a jury Nov. 2 of first-degree murder while committing domestic abuse. On Monday Rooney appeared in a Hennepin County courtroom and was sentenced to life, with the possibility of release after serving 30 years behind bars.
A criminal complaint says Eden Prairie police were dispatched to the Residence Inn on Nov. 2, 2021, on a request for a welfare check. When officers arrived, they allegedly announced themselves multiple times before a man, later identified as Rooney, walked down the stairs from the hotel room’s second level. According to the complaint, a child was also walking with Rooney.
Police say Rooney had a gunshot wound under his chin and an exit wound on the top of his head.
Officers searching the hotel suite found a second small child in a crib on the main level and a woman, later identified as 29-year-old Samantha Rose Columbus Boshey, dead on the second floor with a gunshot wound to her chest.
Police say they also found methamphetamine in the hotel room.
Investigators learned that Rooney and Boshey had been married on Aug. 30, 2021, and that he had previous convictions for domestic assault, making terroristic threats, and had violated orders for protection and no contact.
In court Monday Boshey’s family spoke about Samantha’s love for her children and extended family, and her ability to light up a room with a smile.
“It pains me and kills me inside knowing I will never see her smile light up a room, watch her raise her kids, live her best life, and help her when she would fall like all fathers have a chance to do,” said her father Charles Boshey holding back tears. “A big piece of me died that day she died. I will never be whole again because of what happened to my baby girl.”
Her aunt Virginia Sagataw spoke with anger in her voice, addressing Rooney personally before being redirected by the judge.
“Even though I am a Christian, I have yet to forgive him for this unspeakable act he committed upon my unarmed, helpless niece,” she said.
Rooney had nothing to say when asked by Judge Daniel C. Moreno if he wanted to speak before he was sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison.
If you are in need of help or services, please call Tubman’s 24-hour crisis & resource line at 612-825-0000.
Help is also available by calling 800-799-7233 or texting START to 88788 to be connected with someone from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline includes more options for support and identifiers of abuse on its website.
For Minnesota residents, Cornerstone MN also offers resources and safe housing for domestic abuse survivors and crime victims. Call 1-866-223-1111 or chat online with the crisis hotline.
If it is an emergency, call 911.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
