A 22-year-old man accused of killing the mother of a New Brighton girl he had stalked and planning a shooting spree targeting the girl's friend and relatives was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
Corey Lee Gaustad of St. Anthony had been charged with second-degree murder in the July 17 death of Christine Rose Nguyen, 48, and attempted second-degree murder in connection with Nguyen's teenage daughter.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court, Gaustad waited for the girl and her mother at their New Brighton townhouse. When they arrived, he confronted them with a 9-millimeter handgun, shooting Nguyen in the stomach because he had heard "it is a more painful way to die."
The daughter ran as Gaustad shot at her, the document said. He then considered killing the daughter's grandmother, father and a male friend of the girl but instead drove to Rochester, where he was arrested the next day.
The girl told police that about four months ago she had told Gaustad she no longer wanted to date him. The night before the shooting, Nguyen had called the police and said she would file a restraining order.
Gaustad faces two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. His next court appearance is Dec. 1.
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