MINNEAPOLIS — Retired Minneapolis firefighter Eric Jagers pleaded guilty in Hennepin County court Friday to 2nd-degree assault to a racially charged incident involving a Black man trying to drive through his alley, and he pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm for an earlier incident outside a Minneapolis fire station.
The assault took place in April 2023 in south Minneapolis. The victim, former U of MN football running back and current teacher Tellis Redman told officers that he was driving through the alley on his way to pick up his son and was trying to avoid hitting items that were littering the ground. He ended up driving over a board in the alley, at which point Jagers allegedly threw a boot at the victim's vehicle, the complaint said.
Jagers demanded that Redmon pick up the board and when he refused, Jagers got a gun from his garage, according to court documents.
Police said Jagers and Redmon engaged in a struggle and Jagers fired the gun while it was next to the victim's head. The firearm fell to the ground, and when Jagers attempted to grab Redmon reportedly got on top of Jagers to hold him in place. A neighbor then pulled the victim off and he left the area for his own safety, the complaint said.
Jagers used racial slurs during the attack.
Redman's attorney said the victim was rattled and feared for his life.
Jagers is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6.
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