Cody Fohrenkam pleaded guilty in the homicide case of Deshaun Hill Jr., the 15-year-old North High School star athlete and honor roll student who was randomly shot and killed four years ago.
Fohrenkam, 33, of Minneapolis, had been convicted in the case once before, in January 2023. But the Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned the conviction after Fohrenkam argued statements he made to police should have been inadmissible in court.
Fohrenkam and prosecutors reached a plea deal just as the second trial was set to begin Tuesday, Jan. 3. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with intent. The agreement calls for Fohrenkam to serve a 28-year sentence.
Upon his conviction in 2023, Fohrenkam received a 38-year sentence.
In a statement, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said prosecutors faced “significant evidentiary challenges that did not exist during the first trial,” after the appeals court ruled Fohrenkam’s police statements were inadmissible.
“The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office believes that this plea agreement provides a measure of justice and finality to the family and community,” the statement said.
On Feb. 9, 2022, Hill was walking to a bus stop when he brushed shoulders with Fohrenkam near the intersection of Golden Valley Road and N. Penn Avenue. Fohrenkam had been searching for a man who stole his cellphone at knifepoint at a corner store that morning.
After brushing shoulders, Fohrenkam pulled out a gun and shot Hill in the head, according to prosecutors.
