Robbinsdale home invasion: 2 'persons of interest' identified

Police have been tracking two "persons of interest" in the Robbinsdale home invasion in which Jamis Marks, 28, was shot to death on New Year's day.

By JIM ADAMS, Star Tribune

Last update: January 23, 2008 - 10:17 PM

Police have identified two Minneapolis men as "persons of interest" in the Robbinsdale home invasion during which a 28-year-old man was shot to death on New Year's Day.

According to court documents, the two 22-year-old men, who have bragged about participating in violent robberies, have been under police surveillance, and police have obtained one man's cell phone records. The records show his phone was in the area of the home invasion shortly after the slaying, but no calls were made during the time of the forced entry and robbery.

Robbinsdale Police Chief Wayne Shellum said that the two men are "persons of interest" but that no arrests are imminent. "We are exploring all the angles on everyone we come up with," he said.

A police informant said the two men had worked together at a grocery store.

The killing shocked Robbinsdale and Shellum, who said he had never seen such a brutal crime in his career.

Two men armed with rifles forced their way into the home of Jamis and Heather Marks about 2:35 a.m. on Jan. 1, shortly after they and another couple returned after a night out for New Year's Eve. As the robbers took watches, jewelry, credit cards and cell phones and made threats, Marks grabbed for a rifle, and was shot in the ensuing struggle. The Markses' guests suffered minor injuries.

The surviving man dead-bolted the door as the robbers fled. Then the victims heard the door being kicked as the gunmen apparently tried to reenter before fleeing again. After they left, Heather Marks called police, and one of the visiting friends told the dispatcher Jamis Marks had been shot in the neck and chest.

A history of robbery

A police affidavit in a search warrant filed in Hennepin County District Court noted that two robbers shot Marks with .22-caliber slugs. The document also said:

One of the 22-year-olds was found last April to have .22-caliber ammunition in his pocket when police found him in an area where other aggravated robberies had occurred. He is also known to drive a Chrysler Sebring, similar to the car a neighbor's security camera recorded in the area and close to the time when the Markses' home in the 2700 block of York Avenue N. was invaded.

In late August, one man was stopped while driving the Sebring in Crystal with the other man as a passenger. In October, the driver was charged with drug possession, obstructing police and giving a false name. Minneapolis police records show he has been arrested for three robberies and twice for weapon possession.

Police identified the driver as a member of the Emerson Murder Boys Gang.

Staff writer Rochelle Olson contributed to this report. Jim Adams • 612-673-7658