On the night of June 28, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in North Minneapolis when 55-year-old Carl Maurice Woodard was fatally shot while sitting in his parked car on the 3500 block of Penn Avenue North. Responding officers discovered Woodard unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle riddled with 13 bullet holes. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
On the night of June 28, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in North Minneapolis when 55-year-old Carl Maurice Woodard was fatally shot while sitting in his parked car on the 3500 block of Penn Avenue North. Responding officers discovered Woodard unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle riddled with 13 bullet holes. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that the gunfire originated from a hole in a fence adjacent to the passenger side of Woodard’s car. The Minneapolis crime lab recovered 23 shell casings behind the fence, indicating a targeted and calculated attack.
Surveillance footage from the area captured a white Chevy Tahoe parked two houses down from Woodard’s vehicle. The video showed a man, later identified as 23-year-old Dameon Markese Collins of Bloomington, exiting the Tahoe and navigating through a nearby alley. He was then seen walking between two houses to the fenced area near Woodard’s car. Moments later, multiple muzzle flashes were visible, followed by Collins running back to the Tahoe and fleeing the scene.
Further investigation revealed that Collins’ phone records placed him at the crime scene during the time of the shooting. Upon arrest, Collins admitted to driving a white Tahoe and wearing the same clothes as the individual in the surveillance footage. He also acknowledged knowledge of the hole in the fence on the 3500 block of Penn Avenue. Collins claimed he exited his vehicle intending to talk to a girl.
Collins has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held in Hennepin County jail on $1 million bail. He also faces a misdemeanor charge for possessing a pistol without a permit. His court appearance is scheduled for next week.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the North Minneapolis community, which has been grappling with a surge in gun violence. Community leaders and organizations continue to advocate for comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of such violence and to promote healing and safety within the neighborhood.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to this case or other incidents of violence to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) . Providing information that leads to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a financial reward.
