A Minneapolis teen was given a sentence of over 30 years for a tragic shooting incident that caused the Mall of America to temporarily close during the busy holiday shopping season in 2022.

Minneapolis Teen Pleads Guilty in 2022 Mall of America Shooting

Taeshawn Adams-Wright, 19, admitted to committing second-degree murder in March, resulting in the tragic death of 19-year-old Johntae Hudson from Minneapolis. He is the first person among the four defendants to receive a sentence. 

An altercation of teenagers at the Bloomington mall, the largest shopping center in the country, resulted in a shooting on the evening of December 23, 2022. 

According to the charges, Adams-Wright and four other individuals were captured on surveillance video chasing Hudson and his two friends on the first floor of the department store. 

Amidst the chaos, a scuffle ensued, causing Hudson to stumble and collide with several store displays. People quickly evacuated and sought shelter.

According to the charges, Adams-Wright used a semiautomatic handguns at Hudson and fired, using extended magazines.The group quickly left the store and made their way to a parked car nearby.

Hudson was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, despite the valiant efforts of a witness, mall security, and medics, Pioneer Press reported. 

According to the charges, it was revealed through ballistics evidence that Hudson had discharged his own firearm twice.

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Judge Denies Leniency

During the hearing, Adams-Wright said, "I would like to express my sincere apologies for the distress and anguish caused to the family of the victim,"

"I deeply regret my actions," he claimed.

However, Judge Paul Scoggin denied his plea for a more lenient sentence and criticized him for his previous assertions of self-defense.

According to the Independent, the judge has issued a sentence of 30 years and seven months. In Minnesota, defendants usually spend two-thirds of their sentences behind bars and the remaining time under supervised release.

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