Bemidji man pleads guilty in Minneapolis fatal shootings near homeless encampment

The 37-year-old Bemidji man accused of shooting four people, killing two, in separate locations last fall in Minneapolis pleaded guilty to murder charges Wednesday.

In a plea deal, Joshua Anthony Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree intentional murder in exchange for the dismissal of six other felony charges. Prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 35 years in prison.

The shootings unfolded over a nearly 15-hour period Sept. 18, with two occurring near a homeless encampment. The two men killed were Roland Scott Little Owl, 20, and Robert Milton Brown, 39, both of Minneapolis.

While prosecutors have not specified a motive, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty previously said Jones appeared to know the victims, who did not live in an encampment.

“Mr. Jones is being held accountable for this extreme violence,” Moriarty said in a statement. “His actions terrified our community.

“My thoughts are with Roland and Robert’s family and all others impacted by Mr. Jones.”

Jones is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 5.

At. 4:39 a.m. Sept. 18, 2024, Jones walked into an alley on the 2500 block of 17th Avenue S. and shot Little Owl and another man, who survived his injuries. Jones fired at a third individual but missed.

About 12 hours later, Jones was seen on a surveillance video walking up to Brown on the 2500 block of Bloomington Avenue S. and shooting him.

At 7:19 p.m., Jones then approached a fifth person near the intersection of 24th Street and 18th Avenue S. and shot and injured him.