Hennepin County, MN (trfnews.i234.me) — Demario Lee Dempsey, now 18, has pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second-degree murder for his involvement in a mass shooting that injured nine people in Minneapolis on August 20, 2023. The incident, linked to gang retaliation, occurred near East Franklin and Chicago Avenues, where a crowd had gathered to play dice.
Surveillance footage showed two individuals exiting a gray Toyota Avalon—one wielding a handgun and the other a fully automatic rifle—and opening fire on the crowd, discharging at least 42 rounds within seconds. Among the injured were four juveniles and a grandmother who was with her young granddaughter, who was trampled during the chaos.
Investigators identified Dempsey and co-defendant Jaden Trejaun Butcher as the shooters. Dempsey, who was 17 at the time, was certified to stand trial as an adult in February. Evidence from Dempsey’s phone, including messages and videos, linked him to the shooting. In one video, he referred to the scene as “a fishbowl” that was now “dry as hell” and “a ghost town.”
As part of a plea deal, Dempsey will be sentenced to 182 months (just over 15 years) in prison, with credit for time already served. He is expected to serve approximately 9¾ years in prison, followed by supervised release. The remaining six counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder will be dismissed at sentencing.
Butcher, 19, previously pleaded guilty to six counts of attempted first-degree murder and is scheduled to be sentenced alongside Dempsey on June 30. His plea deal includes a sentence of 220 months (approximately 18⅓ years), with an expected 11⅓ years to be served in prison.
Did you know?
-
ShotSpotter technology detected 28 shots fired within 1.5 seconds during the 2023 Minneapolis mass shooting, highlighting the rapidity and danger of the assault.
-
The use of automatic weapons in urban settings significantly increases the risk of mass casualties, prompting ongoing debates about gun control and public safety measures.
-
Gang-related violence remains a pressing issue in Minneapolis, with law enforcement agencies implementing various strategies to curb such incidents and enhance community safety.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.