Two men have pleaded guilty to setting fires last summer inÂside Target's world headÂquarÂters in downÂtown Minneapolis amid rioting over a false rumor that a Black man had been killed by police.
Shador T.C. Jackson, 24, of Richfield, and LeÂroy L.P. Williams, 34, of Minneapolis, each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis to conspiracy to commit arson. Both remain jailed ahead of Judge Patrick Schiltz sentencing of Jackson on May 4 and Williams on May 18.
ArÂson and lootÂing eruptÂed on the evening of Aug. 26, when Eddie Frank Sole Jr., 38, faÂtalÂly shot himÂself on Nicollet Mall shortÂly afÂter he was susÂpected of shooting and killing another man. Sole's suÂiÂcide sparked a false ruÂmor that poÂlice had killed him.
Prosecutors say that Jackson, Williams and co-defendant Victor D. Edwards, 31, of St. Paul, went to the Target headÂquarÂters on Nicollet, where dozÂens of othÂers had gathÂered and startÂed riotÂing.
Jackson is accused of using a conÂstrucÂtion sign to break through a glass door of the buildÂing. The three then went inÂside, where Jackson inÂtenÂtionÂalÂly set a fire on a countÂer in the mailÂroom and Edwards addÂed a liÂquid acÂcelÂerÂant, according to the charges.
Edwards, Jackson and Williams along with othÂers fled out the same door they enÂtered, but Williams allegedly reÂturned and atÂtemptÂed to start a fire inÂside the buildÂing's enÂtrance.
All three deÂfendÂants have felÂoÂny reÂcords in Minnesota. Jackson has conÂvicÂtions for seÂcond-deÂgree asÂsault and drug posÂsesÂsion. Edwards was conÂvicted in 2016 in Hennepin County for third-deÂgree crimÂiÂnal sexÂual conÂduct. He's also been conÂvicted of theft, drug posÂsesÂsion and child enÂdanÂgerÂment. Williams has been conÂvicted seven times for theft, twice for ilÂlegal posÂsesÂsion of a fireÂarm in public, and once each for burÂglaÂry and reÂceivÂing stoÂlen propÂerÂty.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482