Man admits to one-punch killing during ‘broad daylight’ attack outside Minneapolis tobacco shop

A 43-year-old man has admitted that he killed a man with one punch during a “broad daylight” attack outside a Lyndale Avenue tobacco shop in south Minneapolis.

Coby Levan Richardson, 43, of Minneapolis pleaded guilty Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court to second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Feb. 15 attack on 47-year-old Clay Anderson of St. Paul.

The plea agreement between the prosecution and the defense calls for Richardson to receive a sentence of 6⅔ years. With credit for time in jail since his arrest, he is expected to serve the first four years of his term in prison and the balance on supervised release.

Richardson remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 11.

Along with this killing, Richardson’s criminal history in Minnesota includes a 10-year federal sentence in 2009 for selling cocaine, two convictions in state court for drug offenses and one each for threats of violence and theft.

Shortly after Anderson died, Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, “This is yet another instance of a violent individual showing complete disregard for human life. The suspect allegedly threatened and brutally assaulted the victim in broad daylight, in full view of the public.”

According to the criminal complaint and police records:

A man told police he was with his brother and Anderson when they crossed paths with Richardson at the shop. The men recognized Richardson from a conflict weeks earlier.

The man said Richardson threatened to kill the man’s brother and then punched the brother in his face. Richardson’s next punch sent Anderson backward to the sidewalk, where he hit his head, the man told police.

Police said Richardson fled the scene in a vehicle and was arrested later in the 2800 block of Knox Avenue S.

The man said he first encountered Richardson on Jan. 25 while having beers with his brother at a bar a few blocks from the scene of the assault. Richardson approached them and demanded they buy him a drink. When the brothers refused, Richardson warned them he was a Gangster Disciple member from Chicago with a federal prison record.