Man Arrested, Charged In Champions Bar Fatal Shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Police have arrested a 42-year-old man in North Dakota in connection with a fatal shooting at a south Minneapolis bar.

Ron Christopher Powell, who was arrested in Fargo on Friday, is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault and prohibited person in possession of a firearm in connection with the Aug. 8, 2013 incident.

According to police, on the day of the incident, they responded to Champions Bar on the 100 block of Lake Street at about 12:30 a.m. on a report of a shooting. Witnesses at the bar said it was full due to being ladies night and karaoke at the bar.

The assault victim, Anthony Orlando Collins, had previous altercations with Powell and was celebrating his birthday that night. When he saw Powell, he walked up to him and began punching him.

Powell then fell to the floor, pulled out a gun and fired three shots, according to police.

Mark Anthony Stephenson, who had no connection to Powell or Collins, was shot in the femoral artery and died later at the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Powell faces up to 40 years for the murder charge, 10 years for the assault charge and 15 years for the firearm charge.