Judge Orders $1.5 Million Bail For Law Clerk Shooting Suspect

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The man accused of killing a Twin Cities law clerk made his first court appearance Monday afternoon. A judge ordered murder suspect Ryan Petersen jailed on $1.5 million bail.

Police say the 37-year-old got upset when his attorney didn't reply to text messages last week. Prosecutors say he then went to the law firm in St. Paul and repeatedly shot 23-year-old clerk Chase Passauer as he sat at his desk.

They were at least six members of Passauer's family in court on Monday. Some of them appeared near tears during Petersen's appearance -- an appearance that lasted less than five minutes.

Wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, Ryan Petersen showed no emotion.

Petersen is accused of going to the offices of North Star Legal Defense in St. Paul because he was unhappy with how his attorney Dan Adkins was representing him in a DWI and assault case in Washington County.

According to court documents, Petersen fired Adkins in a text message earlier in the day and demanded his money back.

When Petersen arrived at the law office Passauer was alone. Petersen allegedly shot Passauer six times as the 23-year-old sat at his desk.

Court documents say Petersen later texted a friend saying "I just shot my lawyer."

Petersen had a small group of supporters in court who declined to comment as they left.

Also not commenting was Petersen's new attorney Cynthia Waldt, who told WCCO she has been hired by Petersen to represent him.

Petersen has a prior criminal record that includes four felonies for offenses including a drive-by shooting and fleeing police.

Petersen's attorney did not fight the county's proposal of $1.5 million bail today but left open the possibility she could argue for a lower bail at the next court date, which is in May.

Relatives of Passauer are now planning his funeral. They said in the wake of the tragedy, they're receiving more support than they could have imagined.

Friends and strangers have already donated thousands of dollars to help with 23-year-old's funeral expenses. Donations are being collected on a Go Fund Me page set up for Passauer.