5 arrested after 19-year-old is fatally shot at Mall of America day before Christmas Eve

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (TCD) -- Five people, including three juveniles, were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old man at the famous Mall of America over the weekend.

On Dec. 23, Bloomington Police tweeted they were on the scene after a reported shooting at the Mall of America, which was subsequently placed on lockdown. According to KMSP-TV, the shooting occurred at around 7:50 p.m. inside Nordstrom. Police arrived and found a male suffering from gunshot wounds, and he was declared dead at the scene.

KMSP reports Bloomington Police said a group of people got into an argument, which then escalated into gunfire.

In a Dec. 24 press conference, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges announced officers from a combined SWAT Team went to a residence in Saint Louis Park and took five people into custody, three of whom are 17-year-old juveniles. The other two suspects are reportedly 18 years old.

They were all reportedly booked for second-degree murder.

Bloomington Police named the two adult suspects as Taeshawn Adams Wright and Deandre Antioun Depratto.

Hodges said he believes there was a "long-standing feud" between the suspects and the victim, whom the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office identified as 19-year-old Johntae Hudson. His cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and manner of death was listed as homicide.

Hudson's sister, Ja'Nayea Hudson, told KARE-TV Johntae went to the mall to find "a sweater to go with his shoes to go to his friend's birthday that night."

Hodges said at the press conference, "Whoever did this, we will catch them. And whoever helps them, we will lock you up, too."

The investigation remains ongoing.

MORE:

• Bloomington Police Department Twitter
• 12/23/2022 Homicide at the Mall of America - Bloomington Police Department
• Teenager fatally shot at Mall of America, 'Whoever did this, we will catch them': Police - KMSP
• 5 arrested in connection with deadly Mall of America shooting - KMSP
• Family identifies 19-year-old killed in Mall of America shooting - KARE
• Johntae Raymon Hudson - Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office