A St. Paul man is charged with murder for his alleged role in a shooting that was the culmination of an escalating feud with his girlfriend’s estranged husband.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged James Edward Hagen, 32, with second-degree murder Wednesday. Prosecutors believe Hagen shot and killed Jonathan Diaz, 35, of St. Paul, who was found in lying in a yard in the 800 block of York Avenue with multiple gunshot wounds Monday evening. Hagen’s next court hearing is Friday.
According to charging documents, fights between Hagen and Diaz escalated months before the shooting.
Officers first responded in August to the same address in the 800 block of York Avenue for reports of a shooting. They found Hagen with bullet wounds to both legs, but he denied knowing who the shooter was or why they fired at him. But Hagen’s girlfriend, referred to as “CD,” said Diaz shot Hagen out of jealousy.
CD later explained she is married to Diaz, although they separated four years ago. She has dated Hagen for the past three years, and said that he and Diaz “don’t get along.”
Diaz was arrested the day after that shooting. He wasn’t charged because Hagen did not cooperate and prosecutors could not prove a case against Diaz without a reasonable doubt.
On Monday responding officers found CD performing CPR on Diaz, who was lying unconscious near a garage door in a pool of blood. He had no pulse and had stopped breathing. Officers helped Diaz until medics arrived, but they pronounced him dead at the scene.
Witnesses said Hagen shot Diaz and fled on a bicycle before ditching it to run on foot. Witnesses also said a white Cadillac circled the area after the shooting.