MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is challenging a judicial ruling earlier this week that reversed a murder conviction in the death of North High student-athlete Deshaun Hill.
On Tuesday the Minnesota Court of Appeals threw out the guilty verdict against Cody Fohrenkam, saying videotaped statements that were instrumental in the conviction were illegally obtained. Fohrenkam's legal team told the court that Minneapolis police illegally detained the defendant, handcuffing and questioning him when a St. Louis County judge had ordered Fohrenkam released in a separate criminal matter.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday that her office will ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to review the appeals court ruling. Moriarty says the HCAO conducted a thorough review of the case they presented against Fohrenkam, and is petitioning the Supreme Court to reinstate the conviction in Hill's fatal shooting.
“The senseless killing of Deshaun Hill was devastating to his loved ones and to everyone in the North High School community,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in a released statement. “Having reviewed the Court of Appeals decision, we believe the Minnesota Supreme Court should review this case and reinstate the conviction.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals remanded the case to Moriarty's office and ordered a new trial for Fohrenkam. In the statement released Thursday, Moriarty said her office is prepared to do so if the State Supreme Court justices agree with the lower court ruling.
Moriarty says Fohrenkam will remain in the custody of the Department of Corrections until it is determined whether a new trial must be held. If that happens, Fohrenkam will be transferred to the Hennepin County Jail until a bail hearing can be held.
Deshaun Hill was a star quarterback for the North H.S. Polars and a guard for the school's basketball team. The teen was out of school to attend a demonstration on the afternoon of Feb. 9, 2022, when investigators say he and Fohrenkam accidentally brushed shoulders while walking opposite ways down a sidewalk on Glenwood Ave.
At least one witness said Fohrenkam then pulled a handgun and fired three or four shots at Hill, at least one striking him in the head. The then-15-year-old later died at a hospital.
Hill's family agreed to a $500,000 settlement with the Minneapolis Public Schools after alleging Deshaun would still be alive if North's principal had not agreed to let students out of school to take part in a demonstration at city hall that day.
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