Two Charged in Rochester Murder Case
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Two of the four men arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Rochester this week were formally charged this afternoon in Olmsted Court. 24-year-old Sao Yim Jr. is accused of actually firing the shot that killed 40-year-old Ahmed Muafaq Abdulhu Al Naddf Monday night near the victim’s apartment in the 2800 block of Charles Court Northwest. He is charged with 2nd-degree murder without intent and illegally possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction. His conditional bail was set at $500,000.
The other Rochester man charged in the case, 25-year-old Eric Lee, is facing a felony count of aiding an offender. His conditional bail was set at $75,000.
The criminal complaint states the Yim and Lee, along with the two other men arrested following the murder, had been drinking alcohol and using marijuana at the apartment of Yim’s girlfriend. Investigators say, at some point, the group decided to confront the victim because they apparently suspected he was responsible for a minor collision involving Yim’s car.
The complaint alleges Yim pulled out a 22 caliber handgun and held it at his side in an apparent attempt to frighten the victim, who responded by pulling out his cellphone as if to record the four young men. A surveillance camera video shows the two men not charged in the case then left, and Yim and Lee were starting to move away when Yim allegedly fired the fatal shot that struck the victim in the chest.
Yim and Lee then returned to the fatally wounded victim and Lee allegedly took his cellphone, which police later found hidden in the apartment rented by Yim’s girlfriend, where investigators also recovered the handgun.
Both men are due back in court on March 27th.
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