Man Indicted On 1st Degree Murder In Fatal IGH Shooting

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Gabriel Alfonso Sanchez Cruz, 43, of Minneapolis, has been indicted on charges of first degree murder charge while committing aggravated robbery and second degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Bryant Jon Lutgens, 38, of Burnsville on Jan. 31, according to a news release from Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena.

Sanchez Cruz had previously been charged with second degree murder, Keena said. He is currently in custody at Dakota County Jail and made his first appearance on the indictment Monday in Hastings.

Inver Grove Heights police responded to a report that a man was found dead in a snowbank in Inver Grove Heights on Feb. 1, the news release said. The man was later identified as Lutgens, and officials said he died from a gunshot wound to the head.

See also: Burnsville Man Found Dead In Snowbank Had Been Shot: Officials

Lutgens had gone to visit a friend the previous night but soon after left to go pick up money in a rented Jeep, officials said. His friend did not see him again that night nor did she receive a response when she called to wish him a happy birthday the next morning, officials said.

Officers contacted the rental company of the Jeep on Feb. 3 and were told that the car's tracking system located the vehicle in Minneapolis. When officers found and tried to stop the car, a pursuit ensued and a gun was thrown from the vehicle, officials said.

The gun was later identified as a 9mm semi-automatic, the same caliber used in the death of Lutgens, officials said. During the pursuit, the car crashed and three people tried to run away. The driver was identified as Sanchez Cruz, officials said.

A second witness came forward the same day and said that Lutgens had dropped her off at Sanchez Cruz's apartment in Richfield on Sunday around 9 p.m., officials said. Sanchez Cruz asked if the witness knew whether Lutgens had any methamphetamine and the witness responded she thought he did, officials said.

Sanchez Cruz then spoke to Lutgens on the phone and left the apartment, officials said. When Sanchez Cruz returned to the apartment in his own car at 11:45 p.m., the witness described his behavior as "off," officials said. When she asked him what was wrong, Sanchez Cruz told her that he pulled a gun on Lutgens in an attempt to rob him before shooting him, taking his backpack and leaving, officials said.

Kyle Reagan, 31 of Minneapolis, was also arrested in connection with the shooting.

See also: 2nd Arrest Made In Connection To Death Of Burnsville Man

He was later charged with being an accomplice in the shooting. He is not currently listed as an inmate at Dakota County Jail.