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Charges: Man Fired Shots At Cops Conducting Traffic Stop

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An 18-year-old man has been charged after allegedly firing shots at Minneapolis police officers because he was "bored," according to authorities.

Malo Dashaunta Gomez faces two felony counts of first-degree attempted murder and two felony counts of first-degree assault.

According to the criminal complaint, on the evening of July 25, Minneapolis police officers conducted a traffic stop on the 3200 block of Penn Avenue North. While waiting for a tow truck to remove the car, approximately six shots were fired at a squad car that two police officers were occupying. No one was hit.

Numerous officers and two canines helped in the search, but the shooter was not located.

An investigation by the Minneapolis Police Crime Lab determined the shots came from a vacant lot on the south side of 3230 Penn Avenue North. There, officers discovered nine discharged cartridge casings.

In August, Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force Unit began to hear that Gomez was claiming responsibility for the shooting, according to the complaint. Gomez lived about a block away from where the shots were fired.

An inmate in the Red Wing Correctional Facility confirmed to officers that "street talk" among gang members said Gomez was the shooter.

On Sept. 15, officers learned that Gomez was in the Hennepin County Jail on other charges. When police went to interview him, he initially denied shooting at the officers, but later admitted to it.

Gomez told investigators that he shot at the officers with a high-point 9mm gun. He said he had no reason for shooting at them, other than he was "bored" and "wanted to fire the gun off," according to the complaint.

If convicted, Gomez could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge.

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