On September 1, 2020, 17-year-old Hispanic male Jorge Enrique Batres was fatally shot in Saint Paul, Minnesota. At approximately 6:00 PM, police responded to reports of a shooting on the 1200 block of Hazelwood Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered Jorge Batres inside a pickup truck with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing someone fleeing the area immediately after the shooting.
Police established a perimeter and apprehended a 14-year-old male suspect nearby. The suspect was taken into custody and held at the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of murder.
The Ramsey County Attorney's Office charged the 14-year-old with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Jorge Batres. Due to the severity of the crime, the juvenile was prosecuted as an adult. He ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder. In December 2020, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the first eight years to be served in custody. The sentence was to be served at the Lino Lakes prison in a unit designated for juvenile offenders.
Jorge Enrique Batres was born on November 8, 2002, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Kristy Matute Gonzalez and Edgar Carrera. He moved to Minnesota with his family approximately a year before his death. At the time of the incident, he was preparing to enter his senior year at Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School in Coon Rapids. He was employed at a local trampoline park. His mother described him as a fun, loving, and caring individual who was protective of his sisters and would never hurt anyone.
The tragic death of 17-year-old Hispanic male Jorge Enrique Batres marked the 22nd homicide in Saint Paul for the year 2020, reflecting a significant increase in violent crimes within the city.
