Minneapolis man charged in St. Paul triple homicide

A 41-year-old Minneapolis man was charged with murder Friday in St. Paul in the triple homicide last weekend in a home on the city's East Side.

Antonio Wright was accused of three counts of second-degree murder in Ramsey County District Court in the fatal shootings Sunday of Angelica Gonzales, 33; Cory Freeman, 42; and Maisha Spaulding, 44.

Wright was also charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder in wounding of three other people.

St. Paul police working with the FBI arrested Wright on Wednesday in Chicago, where he remains jailed until he can be extradited to Minnesota.

"This was a senseless and brutal act of violence that will never be acceptable in our community," County Attorney John Choi said in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, and our thanks go out to law enforcement, especially the St. Paul Police Department, who quickly located the person believed to be responsible for this terrible act."

The killings shocked St. Paul residents, and city officials and community leaders quickly mobilized to ease community fears.

According to court documents, Wright arrived Sunday at Case Avenue in St. Paul paranoid that federal officials were tracking him and that people were snitching on him.

He then allegedly entered the home and soon began shooting. One witness reported hearing 10 to 15 gunshots.

The slayings brought the city's homicide toll this year to 27.

Wright has eight prior felony convictions and was recently charged with kidnapping and attempted murder.

In a statement, Mayor Melvin Carter thanked police upon news of Wright's arrest. "Thanks to their swift work, we can begin to heal and move forward," he said.

Prosecutors have asked that Wright's bail to be set at $25 million, which a judge will decide once he is extradited. It was unclear when that extradition will be.