Man charged in fatal NE Minneapolis car wash shooting

A 21-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with last week's fatal shooting in northeast Minneapolis.

According to the criminal complaint, Kelvin Jerome Roberts arranged for a drug transaction with Gerard Dwayne Brookins at a car wash near the intersection of Marshall St. NE and Lowry Ave N. on Sept. 28.

Police said Roberts told investigators that he went to the car wash with a cousin and another person with the intent to rob Brookins. During the robbery, Brookins was shot in the chest and stumbled into a nearby business as Roberts and his associates left in a white Cadillac, according to the complaint.

Brookins, 42, was transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died a short time later.

Homicide detectives used videotape footage from the car wash to confirm the presence of the white Cadillac at the scene. Investigators identified Roberts as the owner of the Cadillac. According to the complaint, cell phone records indicate that Roberts had phone conversations with Brookins prior to the incident.

Kelvin Jerome Roberts remains in custody at the Hennepin County Adult Detention Facility.

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