Robbery may have led to slaying, documents show

Last update: July 4, 2009 - 12:21 AM

Charging documents suggest robbery may have been the motive in the stabbing death of a man in Minneapolis this week.

Arturo Andres Rocha-Campiz, 18, of Minneapolis, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder. Besides facing the murder charge, he was being held in Hennepin County jail without bail in connection with an immigration issue.

According to the criminal charges, a relative found Juan Francisco Canas Ramirez, 32, dead in his apartment in the 5700 block of Bossen Terrace about 7 p.m. on Monday. Clad in pajamas, he had been stabbed in the chest, stomach and neck.

Ramirez's vehicle, credit cards and identification were taken, the charges said. Police found his cell phone in the apartment, and the last text messages were between him and Rocha-Campiz.

Three days before the body was discovered, Rocha-Campiz used the credit cards at Macy's and Target, where he bought an Xbox video game system, the charges said. Police recovered Ramirez's vehicle a block from Rocha-Campiz's residence.

When Rocha-Campiz was arrested, police found Ramirez's credit cards and identification in Rocha-Campiz's shoe, the charges said.

Ramirez's killing was the city's sixth homicide this year.

DAVID CHANEN