Minnesota Man Acquitted in Fatal Shooting Case

In a dramatic turn of events, a Minnesota man accused of fatally shooting three individuals and injuring two others in St. Paul last year has been acquitted by Ramsey County Judge Kelly Olmstead. The case hinged on the defense's alibi, and the judge ruled that there was "insufficient evidence to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is the person who committed these heinous crimes."

Antonio Dupree Wright, a 42-year-old resident of Minneapolis, faced charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder for allegedly being the masked perpetrator who opened fire on victims at a St. Paul duplex on September 4, 2022. The victims in this tragic incident were Angelica Gonzales, 33, Cory Freeman, 42, and Maisha Spaulding, 44.

Judge Olmstead emphasized that the core issue in the case revolved around identifying the shooter. While there was no doubt that the victims were intentionally targeted for murder, the evidence to pinpoint Wright as the culprit was deemed insufficient.

Wright opted for a trial without a jury, allowing Judge Olmstead to determine his fate. His defense attorney, Joe Friedberg, presented a compelling argument based on a solid alibi: Wright was in Chicago at the time of the shooting.

According to testimony during the trial, Wright's aunt confirmed that he had visited her Chicago home unannounced at 10 a.m. on the day of the shooting. His mother also testified that he had been at her apartment at 10 p.m., more than five hours after the tragic incident occurred. Surveillance video from the apartment lobby was identified by her as depicting her son.

Furthermore, Friedberg pointed out a critical inconsistency in the witnesses' descriptions. Witnesses had initially described the shooter as having dreadlocks, a feature that did not match Wright's appearance.

One of the injured victims, Stephen Anderson, had initially identified the shooter as Antonio, but he later retracted his statement during the trial, asserting that the actual shooter had dreadlocks and was not Antonio Wright.

In response to the verdict, prosecutors expressed their disappointment while acknowledging the court's decision.

Antonio Dupree Wright is not entirely off the legal hook, as he still faces kidnapping and attempted murder charges from a separate incident. He remains in custody with a bail set at $2 million.