MINNEAPOLIS — In the days following the shooting death of an off-duty firefighter at a Minneapolis bar last week, prosecutors announced charges have been brought against a 28-year-old Monticello man.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County on Thursday, Marquise Hammonds-Ford is facing one count each of first-degree riot resulting in death; owning, possessing and operating a machine gun; and possessing firearms/ammo as a convicted delinquent for crime of violence.
The charges come as prosecutors allege Hammonds-Ford was involved in a shootout at Minneapolis' former Whiskey Junction bar on May 5, in which Joseph C. Johns was caught in the crossfire and killed. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined Johns' cause of death was due to a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Court documents said hundreds were gathered at the bar into Saturday night and Sunday morning to celebrate the founding of a local motorcycle club, of which Johns was a member when shots rang out just after midnight following an alleged altercation between two groups on opposite sides of the bar. Based on surveillance footage viewed after the incident, the complaint accuses Hammonds-Ford of initiating the incident and subsequent shootout.
Prosecutors said Hammonds-Ford was seen waving a firearm and pointing it above the heads of the men in the opposing group before firing off several rounds. The complaint said investigators determined Hammonds-Ford, an alleged member of the north Minneapolis street gang YNT, used a 9mm handgun that had been altered with an auto-sear or "switch."
The initial round of shots prompted a shootout between groups, police said. Court records said Johns was standing outside of the bar and directing traffic when he was struck by a stray bullet. Bystanders performed life-saving efforts until emergency responders arrived, but Johns was ultimately pronounced dead.
The complaint said investigators found 63 discharged cartridge casings (DCCs) in front of the bar and determined the spent casings came from at least seven separate firearms.
Following the news of Johns' death, friends and fellow bikers gathered at the scene to pay their respects and remember the man known in the community as Miles.
"He was just a beautiful soul," E.J. Matthews, vice national president of TRU Breed MC, told KARE 11.
Johns also served as a career firefighter with the Eagan Fire Department since Jan. 2020. Additionally, he actively served as a duty-crew firefighter with the Eden Prairie Fire Department since Sept. 2015.
"Joseph was an individual that was extremely caring, extremely positive, extremely charismatic... and all focused on service above himself," Eden Prairie Fire Chief Scott Gerber said.
Hammond-Ford had his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, where a judge granted him a public defender and set his bail at $800,000 with conditions and $1 million without. His next hearing is scheduled for June 10 at 11 a.m.
Prosecutors said an investigation into other possible suspects is still ongoing.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the Minneapolis Police Department or contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or electronically at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org.
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