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Man files guilty petition after son fatally shot by older sibling
The complaint said Mammenga was driving with his 4- and 2-year-old sons in October 2023, when the older child found a handgun and accidentally shot his sibling.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Welcome, Minnesota man accused of manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of his 2-year-old son by his older sibling filed a petition to plead guilty Monday, allowing him to avoid jail time.
In court documents filed in Martin County on March 18, Colton Mammenga, 33, petitioned to plead guilty to endangerment of a child by firearm access in a deal with prosecutors. With his guilty plea, the filing said Mammenga will not be required to serve any jail time or pay a fine, but must complete a presentence investigation and attend speaking engagements about the dangers of negligent firearm storage every year while on probation.
The filing said other terms, like the duration of probation, will be discussed at Mammenga’s forthcoming sentencing, which court records indicate will occur in April.
According to the criminal complaint, Mammenga was traveling in his vehicle with his 4- and 2-year-old sons on Oct. 15, 2023, when the older child found a loaded handgun in the backseat and accidentally shot the toddler, also sitting in the backseat.
The complaint goes on to say the 2-year-old was rushed to the hospital but died two days later from his wounds.
Investigators later spoke with Mammenga and the children’s mother, who allegedly told them the kids had been loaded into their car seats and Mammenga had stored his gun in the passenger-side door pocket before briefly running back up to the house.
Prosecutors said Mammenga told them the vehicle was in motion when he suddenly heard a loud pop, looked into the backseat and saw his son had been wounded.
Documents said Mammenga claimed he didn’t notice the gun was missing from the door until after the shooting.
The children’s mother added that when he’s traveling in his vehicle, Mammenga would regularly remove his handgun from his waistband and place it in the door storage compartment.
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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.
