Two Charged In "Five Dollars For Booze Murder," Exclusive Details, Etcetera, Insert Hype Here Like There's Something So Special About THIS Particular Brutal Murder By Young Thugs Run Amok...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff. (Stock photo does not depict a $5 bottle of booze nor, for that matter, the way it was probably consumed) 

Following a news release by the Hennepin County attorney's office, numerous media outlets reported the fact two individuals have been charged with beating a homeless man to death with a baseball bat, gaining only five bucks to buy themselves liquor and "have a good time." Click here for sample news coverage.

If any mainstream media outlets have linked to the original criminal complaint documents with all the details, I am unaware of it. Maybe some attentive, detail-oriented reader or a harsh little troll-faced critic can post a link to the criminal complaint.

In the meantime, running an oldie-but-goodie play from the Johnny Northside playbook, this blog will publish the actual criminal complaint word-for-word, dig up information about the address of the suspects and who owns the roof over their miserable heads, publish details on previous criminal records, and toss in whatever other interesting tidbits come my way.

Are you excited in a tried-and-true formulaic way? I know I'm feeling a familiar, somewhat frayed but still exciting form of excitement, sort of a "oh, boy, it's my thirteenth trip to Valley Fair" feeling.

Well, here we go...


Criminal Complaint, Word For Word

There are actually two criminal complaints, one for Willis Esposito Richardson, DOB 8/4/88, and one for the juvenile, Andre Zedrick Steward, Jr., DOB 4/2/95. The complaints are virtually identical, however, and say as follows.

That on or about June 29, 2012, near 18th Street and Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, ANDRE ZEDRICK STEWARD, acting alone or intentionally aiding, advising, hiring, counseling or conspiring with others, did without intent to effect the death of any person, cause the death of H.L.B., a human being, while committing or attempting to commit the felony offense of aggravated robbery.

PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT

Your petitioner, Michael Radmer, is an Assistant County Attorney. In that capacity, petitioner believes the facts and circumstances cited below establish probable cause:

On June 29, 2012, at approximately 9:24 a.m., officers were called to the area of 18th Street and Bryant Avenue North, City of Minneapolis, County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota on a report of a male on the ground. Officers arrived and found H.L.B., a known adult male, unresponsive on the sidewalk adjacent to 18th Street. Officers noted that he was not breathing and that his pulse stopped after officers arrived. Officers observed blood on the back of H.L.B.'s head.

Further, officers noted that H.L.B.'s pockets were partially turned out of his pants and there was loose change on the ground next to him. Paramedics arrived and took H.L.B. to the hospital where he was placed on life support. Officers learned from hospital staff that H.L.B. had cracked ribs that were not consistent with potential injuries associated with CPR.

Officers learned that a group of black males was observed in the area that was believed to be involved in an assault of H.L.B. Officers located a group matching the description provided and identified three juvenile males, Witness A, Witness B, and Witness C.

Witness A Coughs Up The Most Info Almost Like A Good Citizen

(Heading inserted by JNS blog)

Witness A told officers that he, Witness B and Witness C were on Broadway Avenue when they were approached by two males, one known to him as "Dre." "Dre" was later identified as ANDRE ZEDRICK STEWARD, Respondent Steward herein. Witness A noted that Respondent Steward was wearing a white t-shirt and that the second male, later identified as WILLIS ESPOSITO RICHARDSON, Defendant RICHARDSON herein, was wearing a red t-shirt. Officers learned that Respondent STEWARD is a juvenile and Defendant RICHARDSON is an adult.

Witness A stated that he observed Defendant Richardson holding a baseball bat. Witness A told officers that Respondent STEWARD and Defendant RICHARDSON began discussing doing a "stain," which was described to officers as a robbery. Witness A stated that he told Respondent STEWARD and Defendant RICHARDSON that he did not want anything to do with a robbery.

Witness A indicated that they were all walking in the area of 18th Street and Bryant Avenue when an older male, identified by law enforcement as H.L.B., was observed carrying a liquor bag. Witness A said he watched Defendant Richardson hit H.L.B.'s legs with the baseball bat and further observed Respondent Steward punch H.L.B. in the face using Respondent Steward's fists. Witness A said he saw both Respondent Steward and Defendant RICHARDSON take money from H.L.B.'s pockets. Witness A told officers that he and the other individuals he was with ran away, but later observed Respondent STEWARD and Defendant RICHARDSON walking toward a liquor store on Broadway Avenue.

Witness A noted that Defendant RICHARDSON was no longer carrying the baseball bat.

"Went To Sleep"

Witness B told officers that he observed Defendant RICHARDSON strike H.L.B. with the baseball bat and saw Respondent STEWARD punch H.L.B. in the face. Witness B told officers that H.L.B. then laid down and "went to sleep."

Witness C told officers that he heard Respondent STEWARD talking about robbing someone. Witness C said he observed Defendant RICHARDSON strike H.L.B. with the baseball bat in the legs and stomach. Witness C said he also saw Respondent STEWARD hit H.L.B. using Respondent STEWARD'S fists. Witness told officers that the (sic) saw H.L.B. fall to the street.

Good Citizen Witness D Finds The Bat

Witness D approached officers to tell them he found a baseball bat in his yard, located in the 1800 block of Bryant Avenue North. The baseball bat was recovered.

Alleged Robbers Tracked Down A Week Later

On July 5, 2012, officers interviewed Respondent Steward. Respondent STEWARD told officers that he had hit H.L.B. and took money from H.L.B.'s pockets. Respondent Steward detailed how he was with Defendant RICHARDSON and that Defendant RICHARDSON was carrying a baseball bat. Respondent Steward told officers that he watched Defendant RICHARDSON approach H.L.B. and strike H.L.B. with the baseball bat. Respondent Steward said that he hit H.L.B. two times in the face and H.L.B. fell to the ground.

(JNS the grammar nazi asks, Who is the 'he' in that sentence? If the pronoun refers to the last proper noun, then it's Steward. However, it's clear from the context of the sentence that RICHARDSON is the one hitting H.L.B. twice in the face. Johnny Northside is making an UNHAPPY FACE as, once again, the highly trained lawyers in the Hennepin County Prosecutor's Office fail to grasp and apply simple rules involving the proper use of pronouns to create clear sentences)

Respondent Steward said that he did go into one of H.L.B.'s pockets and took $5.00. Respondent Steward told officers he, "needed some money to have a good time."

(JNS says, See how the "he" is used properly in THIS sentence? Not once but twice? But one gets the feeling it's just a lucky accident)

Respondent STEWARD said that he looked back at H.L.B. before running away. Respondent STEWARD admitted to officers that he and Defendant RICHARDSON went to a nearby liquor store and purchased a bottle of alcohol with the money taken from H.L.B.'s person. Respondent Steward told officers that he was worried that he could have killed H.L.B. and further told officers he was "gonna run."

Richardson Says Stewart Threw First Blow

On July 6, 2012, officers interviewed Defendant RICHARDSON. Defendant RICHARDSON told officers that on June 29, 2012, he ran into Respondent STEWARD, who told RICHARDSON that he wanted to "hit a lick," which Defendant RICHARDSON understood to mean commit a robbery. Defendant RICHARDSON stated that they observed H.L.B., who was "minding his own business."

Defendant RICHARDSON then saw Respondent STEWARD approach H.L.B. and punch H.L.B.

Defendant RICHARDSON told officers that the (sic) struck H.L.B. in the legs with a baseball bat. Defendant RICHARDSON said Respondent STEWARD'S punch caused H.L.B. to fall backwards on the ground.

Defendant RICHARDSON said he ran from the scene and threw the baseball bat in a yard. Defendant RICHARDSON stated to officers that the only person who went through H.L.B.'s pockets was Respondent STEWARD. Defendant RICHARDSON told officers that he and Respondent STEWARD and he went to a liquor store before separating approximately an hour later.

On July 7, 2012, H.L.B. was removed from life support. H.L.B. was pronounced dead on July 8, 2012. An autopsy was performed and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the manner of H.L.B.'s death to be homicide. Furthermore, the cause of H.L.B.'s death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

Juvenile Andre "Dre" Steward Doesn't Exactly Have A Role Model In His Father

Steward's father has the same exact name and the names of both his mother and stepfather appear on the criminal complaint because of Steward's juvenile status. Steward's father has a modest rap sheet in the State of Minnesota starting in 1995, as follows.

27-CR-95-060965
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
07/17/1995
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
DISORDERLY CONDUCT

Convicted. Got a year's probation. Ten days in the workhouse was stayed.

27-CR-95-082186
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
09/18/1995
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
DRIVING AFTER SUSPENSION
DRIVING W/O INSURANCE

Convicted only on the driving after suspension. Got 30 days in the workhouse but it was all stayed.

86-T1-96-002529
WCS 031852
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
04/12/1996
Wright
Non- Traffic Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
GIVE FALSE NAME TO PO

Guilty. Got unsupervised probation and a fine.


27-CR-96-039292
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
05/11/1996
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Ridgedale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
FALSE INFORMATION TO POLICE
DRIVING AFTER CANCELLATION
SPEED (69 MPH/55 ZONE)
FAIL TO WEAR SEATBELT

Convicted on the false information to police, everything else dismissed. Sentenced to 30 days, credit for 4 days, everything else stayed.

27-CR-97-059697
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
07/14/1997
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
ASSAULT IN THE 5TH DEGREE

Guilty. Got 5 days "sentence to service" and credit for 11 days in jail. I think. There were repeated probation violations.

27-CR-99-066743
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
07/09/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
DRIVING AFTER CANCELLATION

Guilty. Paid a fine, got some time that was stayed, got credit for 5 days.

69-T3-04-613946
DUE 301764
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
11/12/2004
- St. Louis-Duluth
Moving - Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
FAIL TO SIGNAL

Oh, don't do that kind of thing in Duluth. Paid a fine.

69-T7-05-602183
DUE 313751
STEWARD, ANDRE ZED (Note how middle name is truncated, same person based on DOB, however)
07/04/1972
03/07/2005
- St. Louis-Duluth
Moving - Misdemeanor
Closed
Drivers' Licenses - Driving without a Valid License

Paid a little fine. What's the point of bothering to renew a drivers license if the consequences for not doing so are negligible?

70-CR-08-5398
P050058
Steward, Andre Zedrick
07/04/1972
03/04/2008
Scott
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
Traffic-Drivers License-Driving After Suspension

Paid a fine totaling $408.

27-VB-11-2432
411432010
STEWARD, ANDRE ZEDRICK
07/04/1972
02/23/2011
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Southdale
Crim/Traf Non-Mand
Under Court Jurisdiction
Speed greater than 55 miles per hour 1 to 10 over the limit 64/55

Fined $145. Still owes that money as of TODAY.

Accused Juvenile Killer Already Had Serious Record, Was On Probation

Andre Zedrick Steward, the younger one born 4/2/95, was already adjudicated delinquent and was on probation at the time of this incident. He was supposed to be on "supervised probation" until his birthday in 2014. Guess that didn't work out so well.

Steward's mother is listed as "name and address unknown." His stepmother is listed as Heather Smith of 314 22nd Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN. The name "Heather Smith" produces too many MNCIS search results to narrow down with any precision. As for the address in question, it is owned by an Ibrahim S. Kahn, relationship (if any) to slumlord Mahmood Khan unknown.

Willis Esposito Richardson, Model Citizen?

I find it hard to believe and I think it's either a quirk in the MNCIS data base (quirky during the best of times) or this guy just got of a Greyhound bus from Chicago, but I can't seem to find any criminal record on this guy.

His home address listed on the criminal complaint also turns up little. The complaint says he lives at "1427 11th Ave. N." Online city records say that address doesn't exist but some real estate websites say it does. It seems likely the "master address" is 1425 11th Ave. N., which has three separate listings on the city's website.

How unsatisfying.

A Final Victimization By Anonymity?

The victim H.L.B., who appears to have been a homeless man carrying his own precious little ration of liquor, died because two violent young men thought the world owed them a "good time." Allegedly. I found myself wondering what happened to that bottle of booze carried by H.L.B. After all, if the two robbers seeking liquor money, wouldn't they also take his liquor?

Attempting to link the initials H.L.B. with an obituary, I looked through recent Star Tribune obits. No luck. While the laws may require this kind of anonymity in a criminal complaint, it seems as though this homeless man has been victimized one more time by being anonymous in death.

Who he was and how he died should at least be part of the public record.

(ADDENDUM: Victim was Harry Lee Brown according to a Strib article, click here, but any further info about WHO HE WAS is so far unavailable)

Cameras, Cameras, Cameras

In the meantime, what can be said of these two profoundly stupid young men (allegedly) who have so effectively and completely ruined their lives? (It appears)

With the shooting deaths of two little children exactly 6 months apart, and a man beaten to death for the change in his pockets, it seems like drastic policy solutions are needed.

I think it is time to saturate North Minneapolis with police video cameras and for private citizens to rig up their own front and back porches with cameras. This blogger has already followed his own advice and will be writing about it in my next post.