Charges: Man kills cousin outside Minneapolis home after argument over a pound of marijuana

A shootout between two cousins in Minneapolis this spring over a pound of marijuana left one dead and the other injured, according to charges filed in Hennepin County District Court on Monday.

Curtis Edward Jackson, 28, of Brooklyn Park is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Marcus David Williams Jr., 28, of Minneapolis on April 5. The two had gone to downtown Minneapolis together when an argument started and Williams allegedly refused to let Jackson have a backpack that contained a large amount of marijuana. Later that night, Jackson allegedly shot Williams in the driveway of a home where Williams’ mother, stepfather and sister were all inside.

According to the charges:

Police were called to the 800 block of Russell Avenue N. in Minneapolis on reports of a shooting with two victims. Williams was taken by private vehicle to HCMC, where he later died. Jackson was found in an alley near the house and was taken by police to HCMC, where he survived.

Witnesses who were with the two men that night told police a group of people had traveled downtown when an argument got physical in a surface parking lot. Jackson, who was armed with a Glock 9-millimeter handgun with a laser sight, fired a “warning shot.”

That prompted Williams and the other two witnesses to drive off. When they did, they noticed that Jackson had left his backpack in the car. Williams said until he finished the fight with Jackson, he wasn’t going to return the bag. Surveillance video showed the altercation downtown, including Jackson pointing a gun in the air and firing.

Williams went drinking at a bar and then returned to the home on Russell Avenue. Jackson was there waiting. Surveillance video shows Williams climbed out of a rear passenger seat as Jackson walked past him and pulled out the backpack. Williams started talking to someone in the front passenger seat and had his back turned to Jackson when Jackson shot him three times “in a single motion and without hesitation.” The surveillance video showed a red dot from the laser sight from Jackson’s gun on Williams before the shots were fired.

Williams then turned towards Jackson and fired his own weapon. Jackson took cover and fired more shots at Williams.

In all, police found 13 shell casings at the scene, seven from a 9 mm pistol and six from a .45-caliber pistol. Neither gun was recovered.

The house on Russell Avenue was filled with Willams’ family members and he was rushed to HCMC where he died.

Police interviewed Jackson, who admitted to having a 9 mm handgun and firing a warning shot downtown before returning to Russell Avenue. When he got there he told his cousin’s family that Williams had driven off with his marijuana after a fight and it was going to be a “problem.” In a later interview, Williams’ mother, sister and stepfather said that when Jackson came into the house he told them, “I am going to kill your son.”

Williams’ mom called her son and told him to return the marijuana to Jackson. Williams told his mom that he “would not be giving anything” to Jackson and hung up the phone. At that point Jackson’s sister told police that Williams said, “He think I won’t shoot him, but I will, he think somebody scared of him.”

When Williams drove up to the house, Jackson left and family members heard the gunshots before rushing outside.

Jackson told police his cousin shot him first and he shot back out of fear. Jackson is not in custody and a nationwide warrant has been issued for his arrest. Jackson has a lengthy criminal history in Minnesota, including felony convictions for theft, burglary, escaping from custody and drug possession.