Man shot over late car payment

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: December 30, 2008 - 11:05 AM

Charges are expected to be filed today or Wednesday against three people who are accused of shooting a man in the chest because he was late in making a car payment to them.

A 44-year-old woman and her 44-year-old boyfriend, both from Brook Park, Minn., and a 43-year-old man are being held in the Pine County Jail and face charges of first-degree attempted homicide, said Chief Deputy Steve Ovick of the Pine County Sheriff's Office.

The three suspects allegedly went to a residence on the 10400 block of Rice Road in Brook Park around 12:20 a.m. Saturday where they confronted the victim. The trio attempted to collect a payment for a car the victim had bought. One of the three suspects produced a gun and shot the victim in the chest with a .22 caliber gun, Ovick said.

The victim, 31, was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth were he was in the Intensive Care Unit Tuesday morning with a bullet still in his chest. He is expected to survive, Ovick said.

The suspects are being held in the Pine County Jail while authorities continue to investigate the case.