22-Year-Old Avonte Troy King Fatally Shot in South St Paul, Minnesota; Two Individuals Charged

Accident – Death – Obituary News : SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – In a shocking turn of events, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena has announced that charges have been filed against two individuals in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in South St Paul on Friday, November 24, 2023. The incident resulted in the tragic death of 26-year-old Avonte Troy King, a resident of South St. Paul, Minnesota.

According to the criminal complaint released by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, officers from the South St. Paul Police Department responded to a weapons call at a residence on 3rd Avenue South. The call came in around 4:50 PM, reporting a shooting and a person bleeding. Upon arrival, officers found Mr. King lying in the road with a gunshot wound to his chest. Sadly, he did not have a pulse and was pronounced dead later at Region’s Hospital. The preliminary autopsy confirmed that Mr. King died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

During the investigation, officers discovered a blue iPhone with the name “King” on the lock screen and an unidentified debit card near Mr. King’s body. Interviews with witnesses at the scene provided crucial details about the incident. One witness reported hearing someone shout, “Shoot him,” and saw three individuals, two younger males followed by Mr. King, walking quickly down the street. The witness witnessed one of the males turn around and shoot Mr. King with what appeared to be a black handgun resembling a “cop gun.” The two younger males fled the scene in an older black Chevy sedan parked nearby, with the shooter behind the wheel. The witness called 911 and tried to provide aid to Mr. King, who did not possess a firearm. The suspects were described as black males in their mid-twenties, wearing black/grey or dark-colored hoodies.

Another witness heard someone shout, “Shoot him, F****** Shoot Him,” followed by a loud noise, prompting them to call 911. A third witness reported seeing a black sedan backing onto 5th Street and turning onto southbound 3rd Avenue South, with two occupants. The driver, identified as a black male with mid-length dreads, matched the description of one of the suspects.

Later that day, 22-year-old Tre Iglesias came forward to law enforcement and admitted to being present during the incident. Mr. Iglesias, along with 20-year-old Andrew Fisher, was subsequently charged in connection with the shooting. According to Mr. Iglesias’ initial statement, he and Mr. Fisher were friends, and Mr. Fisher had been staying at his residence for the past week. On that fateful day, they both went to a residence on 3rd Avenue South, where Mr. Fisher allegedly grabbed a bag of marijuana from a table and fled. Mr. Iglesias followed him, with Mr. King trailing behind. It was outside the residence that Mr. Fisher turned and shot Mr. King. The two suspects then fled in Mr. Iglesias’ car, with Mr. Iglesias driving them away from the scene. Mr. Fisher was dropped off in Cambridge. However, in a subsequent interview, Mr. Iglesias changed his story, claiming that another witness drove Mr. Fisher to Cambridge while he simply accompanied them. During the drive, Mr. Fisher admitted to the shooting and instructed the witness to remain silent. This prompted Mr. Iglesias to contact the police and confess his involvement.

Another witness, who was a friend of Mr. Iglesias, confirmed their presence at Mr. Iglesias’ residence on the day of the shooting. This witness agreed to provide Mr. Fisher with a ride to Cambridge. Prior to leaving, Mr. Fisher changed his clothes, discarding the grey ripped jeans and black top he had been wearing. During the drive, Mr. Fisher admitted to shooting someone.

Following these witness statements, the police obtained search warrants for Mr. Iglesias’ car and residence. The search yielded significant evidence, including a document with Mr. Fisher’s name on the passenger rear floorboard, a document with Mr. Iglesias’ name on the driver’s side rear floor, a Beretta BB handgun under the front passenger seat, and various identification documents belonging to Mr. Iglesias. The search of Mr. Iglesias’ residence uncovered a cracked black iPhone behind the living room couch, torn jeans, a loaded handgun magazine, a black wallet containing Mr. Fisher’s ID, an empty Taurus gun box, black hooded sweatshirts, and an empty gun safe.

Both Andrew Fisher and Tre Iglesias have been charged with one felony count of second-degree intentional murder and one felony count of second-degree unintentional murder (while committing a felony). If convicted, they could face a sentence of 3 to 40 years. In their initial court appearances, Judge Shawn Moynihan set Mr. Fisher’s bond at $1 million without conditions ($750,000 with conditions), while Mr. Iglesias’ bond was set at $750,000 without conditions ($500,000 with conditions). The next court hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2023, at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota. However, it is important to note that the criminal charges are not evidence of guilt, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This tragic incident has left the community of South St. Paul in shock and mourning. The authorities are committed to pursuing justice for Avonte Troy King and ensuring the safety of the community. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is urged to come forward and contact the South St. Paul Police Department.

[Pictured: Andrew Fisher (left), Tre Iglesias]
Photo by Dakota County Jail.