A second man has been charged in relation to a violent carjacking in Minnetonka in August where a woman was followed home and attacked in her own driveway along with her young son as they attempted to fight off at least four suspects.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has filed felony counts of first-degree carjacking and first-degree burglary against Derek Sincere Holmes, 18, who is not yet in custody.
The charges say that law enforcement was able to identify Holmes through surveillance video when the victim’s vehicle was dumped in Edina and from having prior contacts with Holmes.
Craig Beason previously told Alpha News that his wife had just returned home from grocery shopping on Aug. 17 around 10:50 a.m. when she was carjacked by a group of young men. Her 13-year-old son was also attacked as he called 911. The suspects then tried to run both of them over with her car and the stolen car they arrived in.
One suspect was arrested two weeks ago, the day after a packed city council meeting where the carjacking and crime were discussed.
Romell Roshode Lewis, 21, remains in custody in Hennepin County Jail and is charged with the same counts as Holmes and an additional charge of first-degree aggravated robbery.
IN CUSTODY:
Romell Roshode Lewis, 21, was arrested today.
Suspected in the Minnetonka carjacking where a woman and her son were followed home and then attacked in their own driveway by at least four suspects who then tried to run them over.https://t.co/B7nwkGgdd2 pic.twitter.com/8fonTrxvcM— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) September 20, 2023
Charges say the suspects appear to have “chosen and followed” Beason’s wife back to her home. Lewis and Holmes have been charged under Minnesota’s enhanced carjacking penalties. At least four suspects were involved in the carjacking.
Continued complaints were made about Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty at the September Minnetonka City Council meeting where residents spoke about her soft-on-crime stances regarding juvenile and youth crimes.
Another group of residents and crime victims have planned a “Rally for Justice” at the Hennepin County Government Center next Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. According to the event post by organizers, the rally is to “show support for victims and disapproval of the HCAO policies.”
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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.
