Blaine Man with Violent History Charged in Coon Rapids Shooting

A Blaine man with several prior violent felony convictions is facing new charges for a shooting in Coon Rapids in mid-January.

Jeffrey Allan Costillo, Anoka County Jail

A Blaine man with several prior violent felony convictions is facing new charges for shooting another man over a vehicle swap gone wrong in Coon Rapids earlier this month, according to a new criminal complaint filed in Anoka County.

Just before 5 p.m. on Jan. 14, Coon Rapids police were called to a home in that city on the 900 block of 121st Lane Northwest on a report of a man screaming for help. Officers arrived to find a man on the garage floor and yelling in pain who said he’d been shot in the leg, the complaint states. 

The victim was transported to the hospital where a metal rod was placed in his leg replacing his damaged femur. The victim was initially unwilling to identify the shooter to police but subsequently identified the shooter as Jeffrey Allan Costillo, a person he knew. 

The victim told police that the two had traded vehicles two days before the shooting. The victim had given Costillo a vehicle and $400 in cash in trade for another vehicle, but said he still owed Costillo $400 and the vehicle’s title.

The victim said Costillo confronted him in the garage on Jan. 14 and wanted the cash and the title. Costillo then became upset when he learned the victim only had $250 and pulled out a black handgun and shot the victim in the leg. The victim fell to the ground and said one or two additional shots were fired and that he “could feel a bullet graze by his head.” Costillo then threatened to kill the victim if he told police. 

PRIORS

Costillo has a 2011 felony conviction on charges of first-degree aggravated robbery and three counts of second-degree assault, two of the counts involving a firearm. Costillo was accused of using a gun to rob and assault several people at a party on Jan. 1, 2010, according to a court document. Costillo was sentenced to 71 months in prison following the conviction.

Costillo has another 2011 felony conviction for simple robbery and a 2008 felony conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery. Costillo was originally granted a stayed sentence on the 2008 conviction, but the stay was revoked at the time of his subsequent conviction on the simple robbery charge and the two sentences were ordered to be served concurrently. Costillo has other convictions for theft, violation of a domestic abuse no contact order, two DWIs and several driving after revocation. 

NEW CHARGES

Costillo was charged by arrest warrant on Jan. 24 with one count of felony first-degree assault involving great bodily harm and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm related to the Coon Rapids shooting. The complaint states that if convicted, Costillo could face up to 20 years in prison on the assault charge and up to 15 years on the firearm charge.

Jail and court records show that Costillo was booked into Anoka County Jail on Jan. 29 and made his first court appearance on that date. Bail was set at $100,000 with conditions and jail records show that Costillo was released from custody the same day following his court appearance.

Costillo, whose address on the booking record lists to the 8800 block of Lincoln Street Northeast in Blaine, is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Feb. 24.

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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

Crime Watch MN

Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.