Man charged in Minneapolis carjacking, crash that killed 2 women
A 45-year-old man with an "extensive criminal history" faces charges in connection to a carjacking and chase that ended in a fatal crash at a busy north Minneapolis intersection Thursday.
The two women who died were identified as Marisa Ardys Casebolt and Liberty Borg. Both were 25 years old. A six-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital with broken femurs and a traumatic brain injury, charging documents said.
Edward Tiki Arrington, also known as Troy Mike Payton, is charged in Hennepin County with two counts of fleeing a peace officer resulting in death and one count of fleeing a peace officer resulting in great bodily harm. He also faces federal charges of one count of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and one count of carjacking.
The chaotic spree started around 8 a.m., police said. Arrington was driving recklessly before crashing into a silver car at Lake Street and Fourth Avenue South. He ran up to the silver car while pointing a gun at the driver. Arrington then turned and ran up to a second car on the road and pointed his gun at that driver, charges say.
The driver of the second car sped away, and Arrington ran up to a black Volkswagen, pointing a gun at the driver. The driver got out of the Volkswagen and Arrington stole it, documents say.
State charges say that the investigation into the carjacking and attempted carjackings is ongoing, but at some point during the series of events, Arrington fired his gun multiple times. Federal documents say he also approached a pedestrian and asked her where her guns were. When she replied that she didn't have a gun, Arrington released her and ran back to the Volkswagen.
According to the criminal complaint, Arrington also drove up to the car he had initially crashed, got his dogs and loaded them into the stolen car. He then took off eastbound on Lake Street.
Minneapolis police responded to the carjacking calls and eventually spotted Arrington driving "erratically on city streets through downtown and into north Minneapolis," documents say. Officers activated their emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop him, but Arrington continued to drive.
He eventually made his way onto Olson Memorial Highway and ran a red light at Penn Avenue, charges say. He T-boned a blue Ford Focus on the passenger side. Casebolt and Borg were pronounced dead at the scene.
Arrington was also injured in the crash. He was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
He has an "extensive criminal history to include multiple assaults with firearms, illegal possession of a firearm, and two convictions for fleeing police in a motor vehicle from 2000 and 2006," state documents say. The federal charges also say he has a prior conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, for which he was sentenced to 40 months in prison in 2009.
"Two young women should be alive today. Instead, their lives were cut short by a senseless crime committed by a career criminal," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "They deserved better. We all deserve better. I am weary of this endless violence. Minnesota deserves peace. We will keep fighting to restore it."
"This tragic loss of life was entirely preventable," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said, "Two women with their entire lives ahead of them are gone, and a young child is in the hospital with serious injuries. They were simply going about their lives on a Thursday morning and deserved to make it home safely. We issued charges against Mr. Payton immediately to protect our community and anticipate additional charges as the investigation continues."
In a statement shared with WCCO, Casebolt's sister, Blaze, shared the following:
"Marisa was a loving and devoted mother who was always smiling. That's how I will remember her. Even during difficult times, you wouldn't know it, because she carried herself with warmth and joy. She had a great sense of humor and would always make us laugh, even as a child.
She loved being a mother and took great pride in her children. Marisa was a good person who loved her job, her kids, and her family and friends deeply. She was also an enrolled member of the White Earth Tribe, something she carried with pride.
To her family, Marisa was more than a sister — she was a best friend. My sisters and I most late nights would be in our group chat sending pictures of our kids, laughing, and offering each other advice as we navigated motherhood together. She was also an amazing aunt whose love and presence touched all of us.
That's who Marisa was giving, joyful, and full of love for her family. Her memory will live on in the laughter she shared, the love she gave, and the strength she showed every day."
Arrington is being held on a $4 million bail, Moriarty's office said. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday afternoon.