Murder on Memorial Day: A GPS‑Tracked Twist

A 21‑year‑old from Fridley, Raquan Rahjai Johnson, faces murder charges after a drive‑by shooting on Memorial Day in Minneapolis. Police say he fired at least one person and may have been involved in a second, more deadly incident. The first shooting occurred on May 24 near Penn Avenue North. Witnesses linked Johnson to the gunfire, and investigators later found a dead victim on Columbus Avenue South at 12:05 a. m. on May 25, a few hours after the first blast. During the investigation, officers collected over 30 shell casings from two streets. One of those shells matched a 9 mm cartridge found at the Penn Avenue scene, suggesting a single weapon was used in both attacks.

Police tracked Johnson using his ankle‑monitor GPS and cell‑phone data, placing him at the crime scenes during the times of the shootings. He was arrested on June 5 after being read his rights. When questioned, Johnson admitted to shooting at the Penn Avenue location but claimed he was not the gunman in the later, fatal incident. He said he drove friends to the second site and that they had planned a “gunfight. ” He also mentioned giving his gun to a friend when ammunition ran low. The motive behind the shootings remains unclear. Johnson mentioned an argument over the phone that may have sparked the violence, but investigators still do not know why he acted or if others were involved. This case highlights how modern technology like GPS ankle bracelets can play a critical role in solving crimes, even when suspects try to conceal their movements.

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