MINNEAPOLIS — A woman has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for the shooting death of 40-year-old Kenneth Johnson inside a convenience store in Minneapolis on December 30, 2023.
Misti Dawn Nelson, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting, which occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. at the Mr. Santana convenience store on University Avenue Southeast.
According to charging documents, the incident began with a reported fight involving 10 people inside the store. A witness told authorities shots were fired and a person was lying in the street. Police arrived to find Johnson suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead within the hour.
Surveillance footage from the store revealed that Johnson was initially outside when the altercation began but entered the store and became involved in the conflict. Nelson, who was also in the store with her sister, became involved in a physical confrontation with one of Johnson’s associates. Nelson then reportedly pulled out a gun and began striking the woman. The situation escalated as Nelson was pushed outside, and her sister continued fighting with women who had been with Johnson.
Nelson eventually returned to the store, opened the door, and fired a shot into the group. As Johnson walked out behind her, Nelson shot him again, fatally wounding him.
Eight hours after the shooting, Nelson turned herself in to police through a family member and surrendered the gun used in the crime. In a Miranda statement to police, Nelson admitted to shooting Johnson twice, explaining that she did so out of fear for her sister’s safety and because she had been struck in the face during the altercation. She also cited Johnson’s larger size as a reason for her actions.
Nelson was sentenced to over eight years in prison for the second-degree murder conviction.
