Bloomington Police Chief Hodges says three people in custody for the shooting at the Mall of America each face a felony charge of ‘aiding an offender’ and there are nationwide warrants for two people.
Denesh Raghubir, 21; Selena Raghubir, 23; and Delyanie Kwen-Shawn Arnold, 23, are all charged with aiding an offender.
There are nationwide warrants for Shamar Alon Lark, 21, and Rashad Jamal May, 23.
“You can’t shoot up a mall and think you’re going to get away with it,” Chief Booker Hodges told reporters. “I knew there were a lot of people who were traumatized by this. We just want to make sure we’re doing what we can to keep our community safe. »
Officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots on the west side of the Mall of America around 4:17 p.m. Thursday. Officers were then directed to the Nike store, where three shell casings were found just inside the main entrance.
Left to right: Denesh Raghubir, Selena Raghubir and Delyanie Arnold (Bloomington Police Department)
Surveillance video showed six people were involved in a fight outside the store’s checkout area, causing several customers to flee. Two people involved in the fight – identified as Lark and May – briefly left the store and then returned. Upon his return, Lark reportedly fired a handgun multiple times at others involved in the fight.
Chef Hodges said: ‘Mr May had instigated Mr Lark to go back and shoot the store, and unfortunately Mr Lark chose to display a complete lack of respect for humanity and walked into the store. and fired three bullets into a crowded Nike store.
Security footage showed the pair then ran through the north gates of the mall, through the north lot and into the Ikea parking lot. Officers later determined they were picked up by a Best Western hotel shuttle and taken to the hotel just south of the mall.
According to the complaint, phone records showed May called Arnold two minutes after the shots were fired in the mall. May then received five calls from Arnold between 4:20 p.m. and 4:23 p.m.
Chief Hodges further explained that the suspects in custody helped Lark and May escape, saying: “These three people who helped Lark and May, we locked them up – and anyone who helps Lark and May, we’re going to lock up.”
Arnold’s girlfriend is Selena Raghubir, assistant manager at the Best Western and cousin of Denesh Raghubir, who has been identified as the shuttle driver who picked up May and Lark.
The complaint says that hotel management confirmed that Denesh Raghubir was not the regular shuttle driver and that the regular driver was working at the time, but he allegedly told officers that he dropped Lark off and May at the hotel and knew them as friends of her cousin, Selena.
Denesh Raghubir also told officers that Selena Raghubir left the hotel immediately after dropping Lark and May off and he did not see her for 45 minutes, the complaint states.
Officers searched the home and vehicle of Arnold and Selena Raghubir the next day and found the orange shirt apparently worn by May and the white tank top worn by Lark at the time of the shooting.
As of Monday afternoon, Denesh and Selena Raghubir and Arnold were all in custody. If found guilty, they could face up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Lark and May remain free. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has learned that Lark and May are on probation for past gun crimes.
BWH Hotel Group provided the following statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS:
“We are deeply saddened by the violence that took place at the Mall of America last week and our hearts go out to the Minneapolis community. Knowing that this hotel is independently owned and operated, we support the hotel’s decision to immediately terminate employees who were allegedly involved in this terrible event. The actions of these employees stand in stark contrast to our brand values and the sense of community that is at the heart of our hotel family.
Bloomington Police provided an update on their investigation at 3 p.m. Monday.
Chief Hodges said: “If someone chooses to pull out a gun or a weapon and has a blatant disrespect for humanity, I don’t know what security defense we’re going to have for that. Our security posture will remain the same.
Chief Hodges says, “May is wanted. Right now we’re going to issue a national offender assistance warrant, and we’re going to issue a national warrant. He will be wanted for second degree assault.
Mall of America released a statement that says in part that it has increased its law enforcement and security presence. This includes K-9 units, patrols and plainclothes agents.
The mall did not say how long these measures will remain in effect.