MINNEAPOLIS — A 79-year-old woman, Ethel Johnson, was struck by a stray bullet inside her own Minneapolis home early Sunday, and prosecutors say Kitanna Fawn Crowell, 26, and Jamaul Wendel Graham, 52, are now facing charges in connection with the shooting that left Johnson hospitalized and recovering from emergency surgery.
According to charging documents, Crowell and Graham have both been charged with first-degree assault and drive-by shooting following the incident. Graham also faces an additional charge of firearms possession, as he is a convicted felon prohibited from carrying weapons.
Authorities say Johnson was sitting near a window inside her home when she was struck in the stomach by a bullet that pierced the residence. Police confirmed she underwent surgery and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Investigators quickly turned to neighborhood surveillance cameras, which allegedly captured a gray SUV stopping near the victim’s home shortly before a gunshot rang out. The SUV was later linked to Graham, and officers located the vehicle with both suspects inside. Inside, police recovered a .45 caliber firearm. Testing allegedly revealed that the bullet recovered from Johnson’s home matched the weapon found in the vehicle.
Crowell allegedly admitted to firing the shot, but investigators noted her statements changed multiple times during questioning. At one point, she claimed the shooting was accidental, but later suggested she acted in response to being pursued. Graham, for his part, denied firing the weapon but told investigators that he and Crowell had been chased by unknown individuals prior to the incident.
Prosecutors stressed that while both suspects have been charged, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case remains under active investigation, and additional charges could be filed as evidence is reviewed.
The shooting has shaken the neighborhood, where residents expressed outrage and concern that Johnson was nearly killed while in the safety of her own home. “You should never have to worry about being shot while sitting in your living room,” one neighbor told reporters.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the shooting or the suspects’ activities before the incident to come forward.
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