On November 14, 17-year-old Yaseen Thomas Johnson from Albertville, Minnesota went to meet a group of teens to purchase a pair or designer sneakers. He didn’t make it out alive.
Augustus Sirleaf, 19, from Plymouth, Minnesota was accused of his murder. He was charged with second degree murder with intent, and second degree murder without intent while committing a felony.
In addition to Sirleaf, other suspects were present during the attack on Johnson. An 18-year-old male was detained but released but provided information and remains under investigation. There was also a third suspect, 19-year-old Hans Madame, of New Hope.
On the evening of the sneaker sale rendezvous, police responded to a shooting in Plymouth and found Johnson already dead in the passenger seat of an SUV. He had received three gunshots to his upper chest and head.
At the scene, a young man who had fled the violence admitted he had been in the driver’s seat of the car where Johnson was shot. He told police that he and Johnson had driven to the parking lot of the apartment complex to meet with some young men in order to purchase sneakers. They met the group in the SUV and started to negotiate the sale. One of those men was Sirleaf. They were making a deal over a pair of Balenciaga sneakers.
During the conversation, a disagreement ensued between Johnson and Sirleaf and Sirleaf pulled out a gun. The witness said that Sirleaf immediately shot Johnson.
Police uncovered a red Nike backpack and a pair of Balenciaga brand white and black shoes at the scene, corroborating the witness’ story about the deal negotiations.
Police also found discharged gun casings in the car. There were bullet holes in the front windshield of the vehicle and a side window.
The backpack contained credit card receipts which were associated with one of the three suspects, and identified him as being at the scene of the crime.
A security video from a nearby apartment complex showed what happened after the gunfire. The alleged culprits were spotted in the footage. This evidence plus testimony from witnesses gave the police a clearer picture of what had happened.
The shoe deal allegedly was a premeditated robbery that resulted in a murder.
Police records state that after the robbery, Sirleaf said he “had no choice but to shoot.”
Plymouth Police ChiefErik Fadden said in a statement, “Yaseen’s death is tragic, not something I or any of our staff will ever forget. This isn’t supposed to happen to anybody, let alone a kid.”
Johnson’s sister said he was a vegan and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
