Minneapolis Man Charged with Second Degree Murder for Fatal Shooting

A Minneapolis man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Marcos Antino Pantaleon, a 19-year-old Shakopee High student who died late last Thursday during a robbery gone awry.

By witness accounts, Steven Andre Moore, 27, did not actually fire the shots that killed Marcos Pantaleon and wounded his cousin and brother, Miguel, though he did help two gunmen gain access to the family's apartment at Hunters Ridge. Moore is charged with second-degree murder, which carries three to 40 years in prison, plus one count of first-degree aggravated robbery, and two charges of second-degree assault. 

The two other suspects remain at large.

According to the criminal complaint, Shakopee Police were called to the complex on the 600 block of Gorman Street at 10:43 p.m. As officers approached the third floor apartment they saw a group of people gathered around the door. Among them was Miguel Pantaleon, 22, who had been shot twice. He was wounded in the left bicep and his right thumb.

Inside, police found Marcos Antino Pantaleon lying face up on the living room floor, with a gunshot to his left side. He was declared dead at the scene. A third victim, a 17-year-old boy, was in the living room as well, shot in both legs. 

The wounded were taken to St. Francis in Shakopee, then Hennepin County Medical Center. 

Miguel said he only knew one of the suspects—Moore. He told police that Moore had been a neighbor and a customer, but had moved out of the building two months earlier. Moore bought marijuana from him on previous occasions. He said that at about 11 p.m. there was a knock on the door. When he looked through the peephole he saw Moore, and opened the door to let him in. Moore and two other strangers rushed in, he said. The two unknown men had handguns.

One of them pointed a gun at his head and shouted "Shut up. Get on the ground," then took his wallet, which contained credit cards and $400 in cash. The man screamed, "Where is the money?" then went to search the apartment.

In his interview, the cousin recounted much the same story, though he added that Marcos struggled with one of the gunmen shortly before the fatal shots were fired. The younger man said that the stranger turned toward him and aimed the gun at his legs and fired, then shot Miguel and Marcos in turn. 

After Marcos was shot, all three fled. Between the two witnesses, there is some confusion as to which one of the strangers fired the shots. The two could only offer vague descriptions of the men, who were both described as black men in their 20s, wearing dark clothing.  

Moore was picked up the next morning, April 19, at an address in the 4300 block of Fremont Avenue in Minneapolis. Moore's girlfriend told police that Moore had said he was in trouble, but he wouldn't say why. He told her he'd gone to Shakopee to get cush, marijuana, from Miguel with two people he referred to as "Slim" and "Smoke." 

Initially, Moore denied any involvement in the shootings. He said that the witnesses were lying about his involvement. On the ride to the Scott County Jail, Moore "became emotional" and changed his story. He allegedly told police that two Somali men had put a gun to his ribs and forced him to participate in the robbery. He said he didn't know their names. 

Moore is currently in custody at the Scott County Jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for May 6.