Teen charged in fatal bus shooting in St. Paul
(AP) - A local teen was charged Wednesday in the shooting death of another teen on a Metro Transit bus in downtown early Sunday.
Jerome P. Cross, 17, of St. Paul, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with second-degree murder in the death of Earl Freeman, 16.
Prosecutors also filed documents to certify Cross for prosecution in adult court.
The criminal complaint filed in the case said the shooting was the culmination of a fight between two groups of people on board the bus.
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The complaint said witnesses told police Cross stepped off the bus and then stepped back in and pointed the gun at Freeman and the person sitting next to him. Freeman yelled, "He's got a gun!"
The witness said he ducked down and heard a shot. Freeman fell over. A medical examiner's report indicated Freeman died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
A video camera captured images of Freeman getting on the bus with a group of people.
Later, Cross -- holding a dark glove -- and others were filmed getting on the bus. A fight ensued near where Freeman was sitting.
After the shooting, police searched the surrounding area. In an alley they found a pair of dark brown gloves and a silver semiautomatic handgun, among other things.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)