Mugging Victim Dies After Daring Robber to Shoot in Minneapolis
Jermaine Baker, 35, was shot 13 times by Tyrone Childs Jr., 21, during a late-night robbery; the case comes as Minneapolis confronts a surge in violence and debates over prosecutorial policy.
A mugging in crime-ridden Minneapolis ended in a fatal shooting after the victim dared his attacker to shoot him. Jermaine Jabaar Typray Baker, 35, died after being shot 13 times by Tyrone de Shun Childs Jr., 21, according to police.
Police say the gunman demanded that Baker hand over his belongings. Baker replied, 'You're going to have to shoot me.' The alleged shooter fired at close range and continued shooting after Baker had fallen to the ground, according to investigators. Childs then reportedly rummaged through Baker's pockets and later left the scene to enter an apartment where he shares a child with a woman.
Childs was charged with second-degree murder, attempted robbery and second-degree assault, authorities said. The Aug. 27 shooting occurred around 2:08 a.m. on the 800 block of Hennepin Avenue. Baker, who was 35, died as Minneapolis has contended with a surge in violent crime this summer.
The shooting was one incident in a broader spate of violence in the city. That same day, a mass shooting at the Church of the Annunciation killed two children and injured 21 other people. The city also saw another fatal shooting on Aug. 26, when a man in his 20s was killed.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who took office in January 2023, has been the target of sharp criticism from some who view her policies as soft on crime. Critics say her approach has emboldened criminals in Minneapolis. Moriarty recently announced a policy shift in which the county attorney’s office will no longer press charges if police pull someone over for a minor issue and find illegal drugs or a gun, with exceptions for cases involving clear public safety threats.
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a civil rights investigation into whether Moriarty’s office makes prosecutorial decisions based on race. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the department would use every tool to protect Americans from what she described as illegal DEI discrimination—a term used in the department’s communications.
The latest violent incidents in Minneapolis happened on September 16, when at least 13 people were injured during two mass shootings at homeless encampments. An unidentified 21-year-old man was also wounded during the August 27 shooting and was dropped off at Hennepin Healthcare about 20 minutes later with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, police said. The city’s crime dynamics have been a focal point of local and national coverage, with discussions intensifying over how best to address public safety amid reforms and social programs.
Minneapolis has faced a sustained spike in shootings since the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, with critics linking the rise in violence to policy shifts and ongoing debates about policing and accountability. City officials, residents, and advocacy groups continue to debate the balance between public safety and reform, as prosecutors, law enforcement, and community leaders work to quell a volatile summer and fall.