A gang-affiliated Minneapolis man has been charged with a mass shooting that left four people dead after allegedly shooting all five victims in the head while sitting in a car with them.
At a Glance
- James Duane Ortley, 34, allegedly linked to the Native Mob gang, is charged with multiple counts of murder after a mass shooting on Tuesday night
- Four victims are dead and one is seriously injured after being shot in the head at close range near 25th Street and Bloomington Avenue
- The victims were identified as Evan Ramon Denny (27), Joseph Douglas Goodwin (17), Merelle Joan White (20), and a fourth victim who later died
- Ortley was arrested by U.S. Marshals and FBI SWAT Team and faces three counts of second-degree murder, two attempted murder charges, and illegal firearm possession
- The shooting was part of a violent 24-hour period that saw five people killed in separate incidents across Minneapolis
Deadly Mass Shooting Shocks Minneapolis
James Duane Ortley, 34, is in custody after allegedly shooting five people in the head at close range while sitting in a car with them. Four victims have died from their injuries, and one remains hospitalized with serious injuries. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified three of the deceased victims as Evan Ramon Denny, 27, Joseph Douglas Goodwin, 17, and Merelle Joan White, 20. All died from multiple gunshot wounds, and their deaths were ruled homicides. A fourth victim later succumbed to injuries, leading prosecutors to add another murder charge.
The shooting occurred Tuesday night near 25th Street and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis. According to charging documents, Ortley was identified by a surviving victim as “Little James,” “Baby J,” or “Little J.” One victim’s family member described Ortley as a “close family friend,” though investigators have not yet determined a clear motive for the brutal attack.
Gang Connections and Criminal History
Prosecutors allege that Ortley and some family members have ties to the Native Mob, a criminal street gang. The connection to organized crime added additional urgency to the investigation, with law enforcement moving swiftly to apprehend the suspect. Ortley was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals and FBI SWAT Team on Thursday, and his court appearance was rescheduled to Monday, May 5, in Hennepin County.
Ortley is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for second-degree assault. He now faces three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, and possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. With the fourth victim’s death, prosecutors will add another second-degree murder charge.
24 Hours of Violence Across Minneapolis
The mass shooting was part of a violent 24-hour period that saw five people killed in separate incidents across Minneapolis. In what authorities believe was retaliation for the Tuesday mass shooting, Tiago Antonio Gilbert, 34, was killed on Wednesday in a separate shooting. Gilbert died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide. Another man, Derrick Lamont Ewing, 51, was killed in an unrelated shooting on Wednesday, dying from complications of multiple gunshot wounds.
The series of shootings has heightened concerns about gang violence and illegal firearms in Minneapolis. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty emphasized the impact of these crimes on the community while praising investigators for their swift action in apprehending Ortley. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the connections between these incidents and potential gang activities in the area.
