Man Sentenced In South Saint Paul Murder

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — A man was sentenced Wednesday to over 55 years in prison in connection with the shooting of two men in South Saint Paul in August 2020, according to a news release from Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena.

A Dakota County jury convicted Jerome Deshawn Misters, 37 of Newport, of second degree intentional murder and attempted second degree intentional murder in June 2021, the news release said.

In addition to his prison time, Misters was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,500, according to the news release.

Police say that in August 2020, Misters fatally shot Matthew Perkins, 33 of St. Paul, and shot another man from Bayport, seriously injuring him.

Aug. 17, 2020 at 4 a.m., South Saint Paul police responded to a report of a shooting in a residential area, officials said. Officers found a man, later identified as Perkins, laying facedown on the sidewalk, unresponsive and not breathing, police said.

Perkins had a bullet wound in his chest and was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. He had been shot five times and died from blood loss, according to officials.

Officers also found a second victim in a nearby street who had gunshot wounds in his upper abdomen and arm, police said.

The second victim told police that he and Perkins had gone to the residence and been shot by Misters after a heated argument, police said. After being shot, Perkins ran down the street and was chased by Misters, who shot him multiple times, according to police.

"The sentence issued by Judge McManus was warranted in this case given the senseless violence perpetrated by Misters against two separate victims," Keena said.

According to the news release, Misters was sentenced by Judge Timothy McManus and prosecuted by praised Assistant Dakota County Attorneys Dain Olson and Evan Frazier.