Assault charges filed against alleged Mall of America shooter

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WCCO

MINNEAPOLIS – The suspected shooter in the Mall of America shooting on December 31 has been charged with multiple counts of assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Thursday.

Kahlil Wiley, 18, of St. Paul, faces two counts of second-degree assault for firing a single gunshot that struck two male victims in the crowded mall.

Wiley is scheduled to make his first appearance January 7 at 1:30 p.m.

“This kind of dangerous, brazen behavior caused the injury of two people. Given how crowded the mall was with patrons, including young children with their families, I am surprised and relieved there weren’t more victims,” Freeman stated.

“This is a matter our office takes very seriously, and since Mr. Wiley fired a gun in the presence of children, we will be seeking an upward sentencing departure. Ultimately, we are seeking a greater sentence for Mr. Wiley due to the egregiousness of his actions.”

According to the complaint, on New Year’s Eve, around 4:50 p.m., Wiley was on the third floor in the Mall of America when one of the male victims and his friend saw and began to chase him. As the victim would later tell investigators, he was upset with Wiley from a previous incident and decided to run after him.

The victim further told police that as he was pursuing Wiley, Wiley turned around, pulled out a gun and shot him in the leg.

A second male victim — with no known connection to Wiley — was grazed in the shoulder. The single bullet managed to pass through the first male victim’s leg, ricochet off a guardrail, and hit the other victim, the complaint states. The second male victim was treated on-site.

Over the course of the investigation, police learned where Wiley lived, and conducted surveillance on the residence in St. Paul. On January 4, Wiley was seen leaving the residence in a car. Shortly after, police conducted a traffic stop, and Wiley was taken into custody, the complaint says.

During the traffic stop, Wiley was found with a gun.

In a statement to investigators, Wiley admitted to the shooting. He also told police that he fired at the first male victim and his friend when they started to chase him as he could not find an exit and was scared at the two people got closer, the complaint states.

View the criminal complaint for Kahlil Wiley.


 

Hennepin County Attorney

 

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