4 charged in alleged staged robbery gone wrong in Isanti County
ISANTI COUNTY, Minn. — Law enforcement officials say four people have been arrested and charged in connection to the shooting and killing of Jose De Jesus Diaz Fernandez last week.
The shooting happened on Dec. 13, on the 7800 block of 309th Avenue Northwest in Spencer Brook Township. Fernandez was found dead in his home, and police believe he had been targeted.
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According to court documents, 43-year-old Jesse Rodrigues, 40-year-old Fredy Olivar, 45-year-old Jerold Downs and 41-year-old Abraham Houle were each charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree burglary. They made their first court appearance on Friday.
A criminal complaint alleges Olivar hired Rodrigues, Houle and Downs to rob a "stash house" that contained money and drugs. Olivar believed he could get out of a debt to a "cartel organization" by staging the robbery, according to the complaint.
Rodrigues, Houle and Downs allegedly went to the house dressed as police officers. At some point, shots were fired and Fernandez was killed. The complaint states Downs identified Rodrigues as the shooter, though Rodrigues denied firing a gun.
