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Man pleads guilty in fatal Plymouth VRBO shooting
Raheim Tyrese Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder Thursday, stemming from the deadly shooting at a VRBO property on March 5, 2023.
MINNEAPOLIS — Editor’s note: The video above first aired on KARE 11 in March 2023.
A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a man last year at a short-term rental property in Plymouth.
Raheim Tyrese Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder Thursday, stemming from the deadly shooting at a VRBO property on March 5, 2023.
According to court documents, officers went to a home on Oakview Lane just before 11 p.m. on reports of a shooting at a large party. Prosecutors said when they arrived, they found the victim, only identified by the initials A.B., lying in the kitchen with multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite life-saving efforts, A.B. died at the scene.
As officers rendered aid to A.B. inside the residence, prosecutors said that officers stationed outside the home noticed a black backpack in front of a squad car, and asked partygoers who it belonged to. Prosecutors said when no one would claim it, officers looked inside and discovered an iPhone, several bags of marijuana and a loaded Glock 21C .45 caliber handgun that had been modified with a switch, making it fully automatic.
Investigators said they reviewed officer body camera footage from the scene, which showed a young woman wearing the backpack when officers arrived. Court documents said the girl told them she arrived to the party around 8 p.m. and was outside trying to get an Uber a few hours later when she heard what sounded like gunshots. She then told investigators that Cooper approached her outside shortly after the shooting, asking her to hold his backpack. The complaint said she took the bag, denying she knew what was inside and “did not think anything of it at the time.”
Other witnesses who claimed to have arrived at the party with A.B. told police they heard Cooper and A.B. arguing, saying they were aware of an “ongoing dispute… over Snapchat” between the men before the shooting. That’s when, one witness said, they saw Cooper hold a gun up in the air, followed by gunshots, and A.B. dropping to the ground. The witnesses said they did not explicitly see Cooper shoot him, but they also did not notice anyone else brandishing a gun.
Raheim denied being involved in his first post-Miranda interview with authorities, saying “someone he knows” — but who he wouldn’t name — was responsible. He claimed he was handed the gun and subsequently put it in his backpack, giving it to the girl. He told investigators he did not believe they’d question or search her.
In a later interview, Cooper admitted to being at the party when he saw A.B., whom he had been fighting with for weeks leading up to the shooting. Court documents said he then admitted to punching A.B. in the face before another man at the party gave him a handgun, which “fired several rounds” after he claimed to have been pushed or bumped from behind.
Following an autopsy, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined A.B. died from multiple gunshot wounds.
A neighborhood resident told KARE 11 at the time that the situation became “hectic,” and it was the “first time anything like this has happened” at the VRBO.
“Someone lost their life, so that’s horrific to know what’s happening at that moment, and just scary to know that happened 100 yards from where I was sitting on a Saturday night and that happened just across the street,” he said.
The city of Plymouth later confirmed that the VRBO was licensed as a rental property, but the listing located by KARE 11 was taken down shortly after the incident.
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This marked the second trial run for the program, designed to attract visitors to patronize businesses while exploring downtown with an alcoholic beverage.
ANOKA, Minn. — It’s last call of sorts in Anoka, where the city is putting the wraps on its downtown Social District for 2024.
City leaders say the second trial run of the program – which allows visitors to wander a scenic stretch of downtown while eating, shopping and enjoying an alcoholic beverage – will officially end at 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.
During the six-month stretch of Social District part deux, organizers staged a number of special events to draw patrons downtown, including the Rockin’ on the Rum concert series, Anoka Riverfest & Craft Fair, and the Anoka Food Truck Festival. Also in 2024, buskers registered to show off their artistic talents at designated locations within the district.
The first trial was just one month long, running through September of 2023.
Two more events will be held in the final days of the 2024 Social District:
- Anoka Vintage fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Visitors can enjoy more than 100 vintage and antique vendors, classic cars, food trucks and music.
- Anoka Halloween Great Pumpkin Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. The fun includes a pumpkin weigh off, adult pumpkin carvings, scarecrow contest, food trucks, merchandise, a classic car expo, and more.
“With the success of the 2023 district, we extended the timeframe and the boundaries in the downtown for 2024. Including the south side of Main Street from 1st Avenue to 3rd Avenue allowed patrons to explore more of the downtown,” said community development director Doug Borglund in a statement. “We continue to see success and have experienced very few issues… we look forward to another successful district in 2025.”
As in 2023, Social District organizers and staffers will report findings and data from the second trial run to the state of Minnesota, so a comprehensive plan can be developed for other cities – like Stillwater and Shakopee – that are set to debut their own Social Districts in 2025.
For more on the district’s final days and the concept, check out the Anoka city website.
Sheriff Dawanna Witt and staffers will collect new or gently used items like coats, hats, mittens, boots and socks to distribute to people experiencing homelessness.
MINNEAPOLIS — As we settle into fall, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) hopes to proactively protect Minnesotans from our impending deep freeze with its annual winter donation drive.
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1, the sheriff’s office will collect new or gently used items like coats, hats, mittens, boots, scarves and socks to distribute to people experiencing homelessness as winter approaches.
“Every year, the citizens of Hennepin County impress us with their generosity during our cold weather item donation drive,” said Sheriff Dawanna Witt, in a statement. “Over the years, we have given away thousands of clothing items, blankets, hand warmers, and so much more to people in need.”
Witt said her office is starting the annual drive early this year in an effort to get ahead of cold weather. The office plans to collect items until at least Feb. 28, but timing is flexible pending weather and need.
HCSO drop-off locations/times:
- Sheriff’s Administration: 350 S 5th St, Room 6, Minneapolis, MN 55415 (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
- Sheriff’s Public Safety Facility: 401 S 4th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415 (24 hours)
- Sheriff’s Water Patrol: 4141 Shoreline Dr, Spring Park, MN 55384 (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
- Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Facility: 1245 Shenandoah Lane N, Plymouth, MN 55447 (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
- Sheriff’s Patrol Headquarters: 9401 83rd Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
- Minneapolis Central Library: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 (9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mon-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, noon – 5 p.m. Sunday)
The Hennepin County Library system will partner with the sheriff’s office this year, offering an additional 20 donation drop-off locations for easier accessibility.
“We’re excited to offer nearly 20 library drop-off locations this year,” said Hennepin County Library Director Scott Duimstra, in a statement. “By partnering with the Sheriff’s Office, we’re able to help ensure every visitor can find warmth and comfort at the library and beyond.”
Hennepin County Library locations:
- Arvonne Fraser Library: 122 4th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Brookdale Library: 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
- East Lake Library: 2727 East Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55406
- Eden Prairie Library: 565 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- Excelsior Library: 337 Water St., Excelsior, MN 55331
- Franklin Library: 1314 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404
- Golden Valley Library: 830 Winnetka Ave. N, Golden Valley, MN 55427
- Hosmer Library: 347 E. 36th, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Linden Hills Library: 2900 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis, MN 55410
- Minneapolis Central Library: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401
- Nokomis Library: 5100 34th S., Minneapolis, MN 55417
- North Regional Library: 1315 Lowry Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Northeast Library: 2200 Central Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55418
- Oxboro Library: 8801 Portland Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55420
- Ridgedale Library: 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55305
- Southdale Library: 7001 York Ave. S., Edina, MN 55435
- Walker Library: 2880 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Washburn Library: 5244 Lyndale Ave., S, Minneapolis, MN 55419
- Westonka Library: Commerce Blvd., Mound, MN 55364
For library hours, click here.
For more information about HCSO’s cold weather donation initiative and what to donate, click here.
So far in 2024, the organization said at least 12 people in Minnesota have also become victims of intimate partner violence.
ST PAUL, Minn. — At least 40 people were killed in Minnesota last year as the result of intimate partner violence, marking the highest number of victims in over three decades of tracking domestic violence data.
According to Violence Free Minnesota’s annual Homicide Report for 2023, of those 40 known victims, 29 were killed by a current or former intimate partner, while 11 intervenors and bystanders were killed in intimate partner violence-related situations. So far in 2024, the organization said at least 12 people in Minnesota have also become victims of domestic violence.
“To every person who lost a family member or loved one in Minnesota in 2023: we believe you, and we want to achieve a safer, violence-free Minnesota together,” said Violence Free Minnesota Executive Director Guadalupe Lopez.
The coalition, made up of more than 90 member programs working to end domestic abuse across Minnesota, released the report Tuesday to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
For more information, visit Violence Free Minnesota’s website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs help, call 800-799-7233 or text 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 offers resources and safe housing for domestic abuse survivors and crime victims. Call 1-866-223-1111 or chat online with the crisis hotline.
