Man pleads guilty in 2012 St. Paul drug-deal murder

December 13, 2013 at 10:49AM

Durron L. Brown pleaded guilty Wednesday to fatally shooting a man and wounding another during a drug deal on St. Paul's East Side last year.

Brown, 27, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Brown had been indicted on two additional counts of first-degree murder after he rejected an initial plea deal last year.

According to court documents: Brown shot Marcelis L. Stafford, 21, in a parking lot behind the Hillsberry 94 Apartments on Ruth Street off Interstate 94. Brown was in the back seat of a car with Stafford.

The two argued, and Brown announced, "This is a robbery." Brown shot at Stafford and Stafford's brother. The brother was unharmed.

A woman who knew Stafford told police that he was going to sell a quarter-pound of marijuana for $1,350.

CHAO XIONG

about the writer

about the writer

Chao Xiong

Reporter

Chao Xiong was the Hennepin County Courts reporter for the Star Tribune. He previously covered Ramsey County courts, St. Paul police, the state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis.

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