On a Sunday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace of the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, leaving a scene of chaos and tragedy. When the violence subsided, three individuals were found dead, and two others were injured in what police would describe as a complex and targeted incident on September 4, 2022. One of the victims who lost his life was Cory Freeman, a 42-year-old Black man.
The shooting took place at a duplex, and the aftermath was a grim discovery
for first responders. Freeman, along with two women, Angelica Gonzales, 33, and Maisha Spaulding, 44, were pronounced dead at the scene. The community was left reeling from the brazen nature of the attack, which leaders and law enforcement quickly condemned as a senseless act of violence.
In the ensuing investigation, law enforcement identified a suspect, Antonio Dupree Wright, a 42-year-old from Minneapolis. He was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors alleged that Wright was the masked gunman who opened fire on the five victims. One of the surviving victims had even identified Wright from a photo lineup as the shooter.
However, the case against Wright ultimately unraveled in court. During the trial, Wright waived his right to a jury, leaving his fate in the hands of a Ramsey County judge. His defense centered on a compelling alibi: he was in Chicago at the time of the shooting. His attorney presented testimony from Wright's aunt and mother, who both placed him in Chicago on the day of the murders. Surveillance footage from his mother's apartment building also appeared to support this claim. Furthermore, witness descriptions of the shooter having dreadlocks did not match Wright's appearance.
In September 2023, the judge delivered the verdict, acquitting Antonio Dupree Wright on all charges. The judge stated that while there was no question the victims were intentionally murdered, there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Wright was the perpetrator. Following the acquittal, no further arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the deaths of Cory Freeman, Angelica Gonzales, and Maisha Spaulding.
