“St. Paul Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Manslaughter in Shooting Death of Jermaine Ray John Baker”

Accident – death – Obituary News : A St. Paul man has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of a 30-year-old man who had just assaulted his ex-girlfriend near a Dayton’s Bluff bus stop. The incident occurred in July and resulted in the death of the assailant.

The victim had jumped off a Metro Transit bus, crossed the street, and began physically attacking the woman, whom he had previously dated. Lazarus Lamar Burns II, who was currently dating the woman, intervened and shot the man twice in the torso, leading to his immediate death.

Initially, Burns was charged with intentional, not premeditated second-degree murder and unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony. However, on November 20, just a week before the trial was set to begin, he reached a plea deal with Ramsey County prosecutors. As part of the agreement, Burns pleaded guilty to an added charge of second-degree manslaughter. The deal also included a four-year prison term and the dismissal of the murder charges against him.

During his sentencing, Burns was given credit for the 180 days he had already served in custody.

The incident took place at the intersection of Third and Earl streets, and the police were called to the scene shortly before 2 p.m. on July 27. According to the criminal complaint, the woman stated that she was waiting for a bus with Burns when Jermaine Ray John Baker approached them and began assaulting her. He repeatedly punched her with a closed fist, causing her to fall to the ground. Burns, witnessing the attack, told Baker to stop.

As the woman was trying to get back on her feet, she heard two to three gunshots and saw Baker running back across the street before collapsing in the middle of it. The woman herself had visible injuries, including a swollen face and bumps on her head. She disclosed to the police that she and Baker had been in an on-and-off relationship for four years, during which he had frequently physically abused her. However, she had never reported any of the assaults to the authorities.

Burns was apprehended by the officers approximately a block and a half away from the scene of the shooting. Upon his arrest, a loaded gun was found in one of his pants pockets. He claimed that he and the woman had walked away from the altercation and that he had intended to call the police.

When questioned by the police, Burns revealed that he had moved to Minnesota three years prior and had met the woman while working. They had only just started dating and had spent the previous two days together. While waiting for the bus, he heard the woman exclaim, “Oh (expletive),” and observed a man running towards her.

Burns, who was unfamiliar with the man, witnessed him striking the woman in the face. Burns repeatedly told him to stop, but the man continued to assault the woman, dragging her by her hair and beating her head. Feeling overwhelmed and recalling past instances of witnessing men abusing women, Burns claimed that he blacked out and fired fewer than five shots.

Witnesses who were present at the scene provided statements to the police, confirming that they had observed Baker assaulting the woman. One witness reported seeing Baker holding the woman by her hair and repeatedly striking her face. Another witness, who was driving in the area, recalled that Baker stood up and turned away, at which point Burns pulled out a firearm and shot Baker multiple times.

Surveillance footage from the area supported the witness accounts of the incident. The footage showed Baker searching for someone while on the bus before abruptly exiting and running across the street. A physical altercation between him and the woman ensued immediately. Three gunshots could be heard on the video, and within eight seconds, Baker had collapsed in the middle of the street.

In conclusion, a St. Paul man has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of a man who had assaulted his ex-girlfriend. The incident occurred near a bus stop in Dayton’s Bluff, and the victim died from his injuries. The plea deal reached by Lazarus Lamar Burns II included a four-year prison term and the dismissal of murder charges..