Richfield Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting That Left Victim Paralyzed

A 24-year-old Richfield man pleaded guilty Tuesday to shooting a man in a public library restroom last June.

Timothy L. Harper pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and is expected to receive 86 months in prison when he is sentenced next month, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said in a release Tuesday.

According to the release, police were called to the Minneapolis Franklin Library, 1314 Franklin Ave. E., around 12:30 p.m. June 13, 2012. When police arrived, they found a man lying on the floor of the restroom, his legs tucked under him. He told police he was brushing his teeth when a man came up from behind and shot him once in the back.

Surveillance video showed Harper follow the man into the bathroom and later Harper coming out of the bathroom, tucking what appeared to be a gun into his waistband, according to the release.

It took more than a month of investigation to identify Harper and provide the evidence against him. The victim was paralyzed from the shooting.

Harper is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15.

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