Minneapolis man arrested in drive-by shooting death last weekend

A 22-year-old Minneapolis man is in custody in connection with the shooting death of Gustavo Ortega, one of three people killed within 11 hours last weekend.
Last update: March 6, 2008 - 11:39 PM


The suspect was arrested by Minneapolis police at his workplace in Plymouth, said Lt. Todd Sandell of the Richfield Police Department. He is expected to be charged today and remains in the Hennepin County jail.

Ortega, 18, was struck by bullets from an eastbound car in Richfield on Saturday night as he walked with friends on the north frontage road near the Arby's restaurant on 77th St.

He was the second person killed by gunshots Saturday. Four hours earlier, Augustin Andrade Navarro, 14, was killed while walking with friends near the Midas Auto Service Shop at Lake Street and Portland Avenue S. in Minneapolis. A car pulled up, there was a verbal exchange and shots were fired out of the car.

"We're still investigating a connection there, if there is any, but we can't confirm that there is," Sandell said.

However, the suspect arrested in Ortega's murder is a known Surenos 13 gang member, he said. Sandell would not say whether other arrests were expected in Ortega's death. Warrants were obtained to conduct several searches Wednesday and Thursday, he said.

On Sunday Johanna Hollis was killed by shots fired into her south Minneapolis home.

ABBY SIMONS

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/16368541.html