Mankato man accused of shooting driver over unpaid THC cartridges

A man has been charged in connection with a Mankato homicide over the weekend.

RELATED: Fatal shooting in Mankato kills 1 person; suspect apprehended

Court documents show A’Quan Kaishaid Laurence Thornton is facing one count of second-degree murder after he reportedly stood in the street and shot at a moving car.

The incident began on Saturday around 9:24 a.m. in Mankato, where a woman called 911 to report her vehicle had been damaged near an apartment and that someone had threatened her. While taking this phone call, a second 911 call was placed near a business close to the apartment. Police would later learn both incidents were connected.

According to court documents, police arrived at the business to find a man in the back seat of a vehicle, who had been shot in the neck. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. Three witnesses, who were in the car at the time of the shooting, claimed the man was initially driving a vehicle when he received a video call from Thornton.

Thornton reportedly discussed the victim owing him money and threatened to shoot the victim, brandishing a “Draco” style assault rifle. While driving on Holly Lane, one witness said they saw Thornton in the bushes holding the same gun from the video.

After the driver performed a U-turn, Thornton reportedly began firing at the vehicle, striking the man in the neck. One of the passengers then took over driving the vehicle, using their hand on the gas pedal to get out of the immediate area.

Officers responding to the initial 911 call regarding the threat and damaged car were told by another apartment occupant that they had seen a man, matching Thornton’s description, holding a gun and returning into the building after hearing gunshots.

After surrounding the apartment, the initial 911 caller and Thornton exited the building with their hands up.

The woman told officers that Thornton was her boyfriend and the victim was her ex-boyfriend. She said Thornton came inside their apartment, claiming her car might have been damaged. Upon seeing her vehicle’s tires slashed, the woman said she saw the victim drive past the apartment and threaten her.

After returning inside the apartment to call 911, the woman said Thornton left their unit for a few minutes and returned holding a gun. Thornton reportedly told her the victim had attempted to run him over in the car, and he may have shot him.

Thornton reportedly told police that while he was outside, he saw the victim’s vehicle and let it drive by him. However, he said while standing in the street, the vehicle did a U-turn, resulting in Thornton firing “warning shots.”

Court documents show Thornton initially claimed not to know where he shot the gun, before claiming he fired at the ground, the hood of the car, and then the grill of the vehicle.

Thornton reportedly told police the victim had owed him money over THC cartridges, but was not going to pay him back.
The post Mankato man accused of shooting driver over unpaid THC cartridges first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.