2 accused of fatally shooting man who allegedly assaulted woman, wouldn’t pay for erotic massage
10/03/2022 2:26 pm PDT
INNER GROVE, Minn. (TCD) -- A man and woman, both 25, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder after they allegedly shot a man who would not pay for an erotic massage.
According to Inner Grove Police, on Sept. 24 at 2:07 a.m., officers went to a home on the 2100 block of 78th Court East after someone called 911 and hung up. When they arrived, they reportedly found an adult male unresponsive on the floor. He was later pronounced deceased and identified as 43-year-old Michael Chang-Beom Lee.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Lee died from a gunshot wound to the torso.
Police initially arrested Fotini West, Logan Slack, and Sean Lumley.
Three days after the shooting, the Dakota County Attorney announced Logan Slack and Fotini West were charged with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree felony murder. Lumley is not being charged.
According to the criminal complaint, a man called Inner Grove Police at 2:07 a.m. and could be heard saying "help me" and "they are trying to get into my house."
The phone line then reportedly went silent.
Police went to the home and made their way inside using a back entrance. Officers reportedly noticed bloody footprints on the carpet and then found Lee dead in the basement bathroom "in a large quantity of blood."
Two witnesses reportedly told police they saw an old SUV in front of the victim’s home that didn’t belong to any of the neighbors and saw it drive away right before police arrived.
Police located the car and conducted a traffic stop. The officer reportedly noticed West in the front seat with "visible blood on her arms and chest area."
Paramedics arrived and also saw she had blood on her arms, hands, and chest.
West reportedly told police she went to Lee’s house and as she tried to leave, he allegedly assaulted her. She called Slack and "the next thing she remembered was Slack physically carrying her out of the man’s residence."
Slack’s shoes reportedly matched the ones found inside Lee’s home. The officer reportedly "noticed a large lump in the front of Slack’s sweatshirt pocket which was determined to be the soles of Slack’s shoes he was wearing."
While at the Dakota County Jail, Slack reportedly told investigators he drove West to Lee’s house for an erotic massage in exchange for money. West allegedly told Slack that Lee "assaulted her and was canceling payment for the services agreed upon."
Slack retrieved a revolver from the car and forced entry into the home using the butt of the gun. Slack and West chased after Lee to confront him, and Lee hid in a bathroom. Slack allegedly "broke a large hole in the bathroom door" and Lee "attempted to grab West through the hole in the door" while Lee was on the phone with 911.
Slack then allegedly shot Lee to prevent him from calling police and to "ensure electronic payment for the massage."
West went into the bathroom and Slack reportedly stole Lee’s phone, which was found in Slack’s car.
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