Star Tribune
Gunfire at homeless encampment in south Minneapolis claims a third life
A shooting in the midst of a relentless string of violence at homeless encampments in Minneapolis has claimed a third life, officials said Monday.
Samantha Jo Moss, 35, of St. Louis Park, was shot multiple times on Oct. 27 at the encampment in the 4400 block of Snelling Avenue near the railroad tracks and Hiawatha avenues, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
At the scene, officers found two men who were fatally shot. They were later identified by the examiner’s office as Christopher Martell Washington, 38, of Fridley, and Louis Mitchell Lemons, Jr., 32, of Brooklyn Center.
Police say the suspect is Earl Bennett, of Minneapolis, who was shot and wounded during a confrontation with police in St. Paul one day after the triple killing. Charges in that shooting are pending.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has charged Bennett with illegal weapon possession and second-degree assault stemming from his clash with St. Paul police. The charges say Bennett “told police to shoot him” and that 9-millimeter handgun he was holding was not loaded.
Bennett also is charged in Hennepin County District Court with attempted first-degree murder in connection with a shooting at a sober house in the 3500 block of Columbus Avenue S. in Minneapolis. That shooting occurred about 2½ hours before he was shot by St. Paul police. He’s due to appear in court Wednesday.
The Snelling Avenue shooting was the second at a South Side homeless encampment that weekend. One man died and two were critically wounded on Oct. 26 at an encampment near E. 21st Street and 15th Avenue S. The man who died was identified as Deven Leonard Caston, 31, no known address. No arrests have been announced in that case.
The city has been coping with several shootings in and around homeless encampments this year. Mayor Jacob Frey attended a news conference on the day of the Snelling Avenue shooting and said the city needs to continue to provide options for people seeking shelter. But, he said, encampments are not an alternative answer.
Badel vs. Lunde
In District 1, Gulled Ahmed Badel is running against incumbent Jeffrey Lunde for a seat representing the northeastern corner of Hennepin County, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, Osseo and Robbinsdale.
Badel is based in Brooklyn Center, according to his candidate filing. Information beyond that isn’t readily available online.
Lunde, who was Brooklyn Park’s mayor for 10 years, wants to increase support for veterans facing homelessness, create a team of advocates for crime victims and expand services for students who fell behind during the pandemic, his website states.
Beck vs. Goettel
In District 5, Jeffrey A. Beck is challenging incumbent Debbie Goettel in the district that includes Bloomington, south Eden Prairie, Richfield and part of southwest Minneapolis.
Beck, who ran unsuccessfully for County Board in 2004 and 2014, said at a candidate forum that housing stability is his top priority. He added that he wants to build thousands of low-income units across the county’s southern portion.
Goettel’s priorities include scoring funding to repair infrastructure, supporting small businesses and expanding transit options, her website states. She served as Richfield mayor before joining the County Board in 2016.
Star Tribune
East metro elections: Arden Hills voters could sway future development at Army ammunition site
Other notable elections in the east metro include several seats on the Ramsey County Board and a citywide trash collection question in Mounds View.
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Orono residents will vote for mayor Tuesday, ending a contentious contest that drew thousands in campaign spending.
Former Orono school board chair Bob Tunheim is challenging Mayor Dennis Walsh, who says he is seeking one last term after eight years in office. Both candidates are pitching themselves as leaders who will value civility, be responsible stewards of taxpayer money and run operations better than their competitor.
Orono is home to about 8,000 people. It borders a portion of Lake Minnetonka and surrounds the city of Long Lake. The two cities are locked in a lawsuit and face a trial next year, as Long Lake officials accuse Orono of trying to poach their firefighters after Orono broke off to form its own department.
The mayor presides over City Council meetings, serves as a spokesperson for Orono and can declare emergencies, if needed. The position pays $4,200 per year. Local elections have drawn many multiples of that in campaign donations.
A new political committee called Preserve Orono, which sent mailers urging people to vote for Walsh, reported more than $55,000 in contributions this year, primarily from three people. In October, Walsh reported about $36,000 in campaign contributions, about $35,000 of which was a loan from himself. Tunheim reported about $30,000 in contributions.
Other notable west metro races:
Residents will vote in three competitive Plymouth City Council races, with at least one seat guaranteed to flip.
