A short confrontation in a Richfield school parking lot among five students ended with one fatally shot while running away and two others wounded, according to charges filed Friday afternoon.
Alfredo Rosario Solis, 19, and Fernando Valdez-Alvarez, 18, both of Minneapolis, each were charged with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in Hennepin County District Court in connection with the gunfire outside South Education Center that killed 15-year-old sophomore Jahmari Rice.
A 17-year-old student also was shot in the chest and remains hospitalized in critical condition at HCMC, according to the charges. A 19-year-old student suffered minor injuries , but Police Lt. Brad Drayna said Friday that the wounds were not a result of gunfire. The surviving students have not been identified.
Solis remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. He appeared in court Friday afternoon without an attorney. Judge Lyonel Norris sent him back to jail and urged him to secure legal representation by Monday.
Valdez-Alvarez followed, and Norris set his bail at $500,000 with certain conditions should he meet that amount and be released. Prosecutor Judith Cole argued for $800,000 because "the state is very much concerned about flight risk."
Cole also said that there is evidence on phones that raises "concerns about retaliations" connected with the shooting.
Valdez-Alvarez's attorney, J.C. Horvath, noted that his client has no previous adult criminal history and nothing in his juvenile background other than two traffic offenses. Valdez-Alvarez is due back in court on March 2.
The two suspects and three victims all attended South Education Center and "are acquaintances," Police Chief Jay Henthorne said earlier this week. Classes resumed Friday morning after being canceled after the shooting.