Juvenile Arrested, Charged In Shooting Of South St. Paul Teen

SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN — A 17-year-old was charged Wednesday with three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of South St. Paul teen Anthony Skelley, according to a news release from the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

The teen was arrested Monday afternoon and is in custody at the Dakota County Juvenile Detention Center, South St. Paul Police Chief Brian Wicke said.

A motion was filed to certify the teen as an adult on Wednesday morning, but he will stay at the Juvenile Detention Center until his next court appearance May 17, the Attorney's Office said.

According to a report by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, Skelley's cause of death was homicide by multiple gunshot wounds.

Just before 11 p.m. Sunday, police were called to Conver Avenue for a report of shots fired, authorities said.

When officers arrived, they found Skelley laying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds to his head, torso and shoulder, prosecutors said. Despite emergency medical aid, he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Officers found a BB gun in Skelley's hand, and shell casings from a 9 mm firearm, a cell phone and a small bag of marijuana were found near Skelley's body, according to prosecutors.

Neighbors reported seeing a small four-door vehicle speed off, and several Ring videos captured the shooting, prosecutors said.

A witness who was in Skelley's residence at the time of the shooting told officers that Skelley was on the phone and said "ok, I’m coming out," prosecutors said. Once Skelley went outside, the witness said he heard gunshots.

Officers searched Skelley's phone and found he had been talking to the teen accused of his murder, prosecutors said. The two had been messaging about selling marijuana, and the last message to Skelley read "here," according to prosecutors.

When officers arrested the 17-year-old, they found a Springfield 9 mm Hellcat handgun containing bullets that were the same brand as the shell casings found near Skelley's body, according to prosecutors.

A GoFundMe was set up for Skelley's mother.

"Anthony touched so many with his beautiful and joyful soul," Trina Zieman, the fundraiser's organizer, said. "Anyone who knew him will tell you the same."

Teen Killed In South St. Paul Shooting Identified By Family: Report

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