Charges: St. Paul Man Shot At Car Carrying His Child And Girlfriend
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 20-year-old St. Paul man faces five assault charges after he allegedly fired a bullet into a car in which five people, including his girlfriend and 5-month-old child, were sitting.
The Ramsey County Attorney's Office said Timothy Ka Vang is charged with five counts of second-degree assault, which stem from a shooting that happened the night of May 11.
A criminal complaint says that around 9:34 p.m., police responded after calls of a shooting near McAfee Street and Nebraska Avenue. At the scene, police met five people who said they were in a car near a bonfire when a man yelled at them and fired a shot at the back window, shattering it.
The witnesses told police they sped off in fear after the shooting.
One of those in the car, the sister of Vang's girlfriend, said Vang had texted her earlier that night with a threatening message for his girlfriend, who is also the mother of his child.
Police photographed the message, which reportedly read: "If you don't tell [my girlfriend] to [expletive] call me there is going to be problems with yo family."
In a statement, Vang told police he became mad after returning home – his grandfather's basement – only to find that his girlfriend was gone. Vang's grandmother knew where his girlfriend was, but wouldn't tell Vang until he calmed down. But this only added to Vang's rage.
Vang told police he drove around looking for his girlfriend and borrowed a gun from a man in the McDonough projects, so as to make him "look tough." He also admitted to sending threatening messages.
Vang drove until he ran out of gas near his grandfather's house, so he began to look for his girlfriend on foot. That's when he said he saw his girlfriend, whom he thought was "with guys" in the car.
Vang said he became enraged at this sight – although he couldn't tell who was in the car, due to it being dark out. He then yelled an expletive, ran towards the car and fired a shot.
He told police he wanted his girlfriend to get out of the car.
Vang said he "really messed up."
If convicted of all charges, he could face a maximum sentence of up to 35 years in jail and/or a fine of up to $70,000.
Vang is currently being held on $100,000 bail.
