Johntae Hudson: Mall of America shooting victim, 19, was shopping for friend's birthday when he was killed
BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA: Five teens have been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the deadly shooting of Johntae Hudson in the Mall of America over the Christmas holiday. Two 18-year-olds and three 17-year-olds were arrested from their homes at 8.40 am on Saturday, December 24, 2022, approximately 12 hours after Hudson,19, was tragically shot during a brawl inside the enormous shopping center. Police said they are still looking for a sixth suspect.
The five people who were detained were dropped off by a White Castle after leaving the scene to sate their hunger, according to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges. "The people we arrested here after the shooting, appears that they felt it was necessary to get something to eat. So they went to White Castle...and got a crave pack," stated a very upset Hodges, as reported by Daily Mail.
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Taeshawn Wright and Deandre Depratto, both 18 years old, were involved in the altercation that turned deadly. Due to their status as minors, the authorities did not publicly identify the 17-year-olds. Johntae Hudson, a ressident of St Paul in Minnesota, was the victim of the Friday night fight, which was an intensification of a "long-standing feud" between two groups of teens.
Ja'Nayea Hudson, Hudson's sobbing sister, described how her brother was "supposed to go to the mall to find like a sweater to go with his shoes to go to his friend's birthday that night," as cited by Daily Mail. Ja'Nayea claimed that when she first received the news that her brother had been wounded, she "hoped like it was just like a minor bullet wound or something." When she learned that emergency personnel was "trying to find a pulse," that hope faded.
Hawi Abdurahman, a close friend of the victim, claimed that the shooting at the Mall of America in the days before Christmas should never have happened. "Street code is you don't do that stuff around families, like kids at that," he stated, adding, "This should not be happening in a mall where there's children, and people shopping." "Stay away from the wrong crowds because the wrong crowds is going to lead you to destruction," stated Hudson.
To help with funeral costs for Johntae, the family has set up a GoFundMe page. His sister described his little brother as "the most loving and caring person to his family and friends radiating positive and fun energy." Her friends shared love and support through their heartfelt comments on her social media.