Richfield Man Charged in Minneapolis’ First Homicide of 2014

A Richfield man has been identified by his victim as the shooter in Minneapolis’ first murder of 2014, which took place Thursday, Jan. 23.

According to police and media reports, Brandon Bell, 24, of Richfield, remains in Hennepin County Jail on $1 million bail. He is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Darnell C. Harris Sr., 60, who was just three hours short of his 61st birthday.

Harris, of St. Louis Park, was found with a severe leg wound late Thursday near the 35th Street ramp to northbound Interstate 35W after leaving the scene. He was shot about 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Minneapolis Police state, in the 4400 block of 1st Avenue S.

Harris told Minnesota State Patrol officers a man named Brandon shot him, as he slipped in and out of consciousness, according to the Star Tribune. 

According to the criminal complaint, shots were fired while the two men’s vehicles were parked along a site on First Avenue. Police arrived at the scene shortly after both vehicles drove away from the scene. A man who lives in the area showed police his surveillance video of two vehicles arriving and parking.  One man, allegedly Bell, got out of his vehicle and fired several times into the other as Harris attempted to drive away.

Darnell C. Harris Jr., was shot in the head and killed Dec. 20, 2012, outside Champions Bar on Lake Street in Minneapolis.

He was also shot by men in a vehicle.