A shooting at a homeless camp in south Minneapolis claims a third life

A third child was killed in a shooting that was part of relentless violence at homeless encampments in Minneapolis, officials said Monday.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said 35-year-old Samantha Jo Moss of St. Louis Park was shot multiple times on Oct. 27 at an encampment in the 4400 block of Snelling Avenue near the train tracks and Hiawatha Avenue.

At the scene, officers found two men who had been fatally shot. They were later identified by the Office of the Medical Examiner as Christopher Martell Washington, 38, of Fridley and Louis Mitchell Lemons Jr., 32, of Brooklyn Center.

Police say the suspect is Count Bennett of Minneapolis shot and wounded during a confrontation with the police in St. Paul the day after the triple murder. Charges related to this shooting are pending.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged Bennett with unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree assault after a standoff with police in St. Paul. The charges state that Bennett “told police to shoot him” and that the 9-millimeter handgun he was holding was not loaded.

Bennett is also charged in Hennepin County District Court with attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting at a sober living home at 3500 Columbus Avenue S. in Minneapolis. The shooting occurred about 2.5 hours before police shot St. Paul. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

The shooting on Snelling Avenue was the second this weekend at a South Side homeless encampment. On October 26, one person died and two were seriously injured in the camp near E. 21st Street and 15th Avenue S. The deceased man was identified as Deven Leonard Caston, 31, address unknown. No arrests have been announced in this case.

The city has dealt with several shootings in and around homeless encampments this year. Mayor Jacob Frey attended a press conference the day of the Snelling Avenue shooting and said the city must continue to provide options for people seeking shelter. However, he added that camps are not an alternative solution.