MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A pivotal development has occurred in a longstanding murder case involving the shooting of a 19-year-old man at a Minneapolis gas station over two and a half years ago. The change of heart by a co-defendant has led to the reinstatement of second-degree intentional murder charges against 20-year-old Albert J. Lucas of Minnetonka.
The incident in question took place on May 6, 2021, at the Amstar gas station located on West Broadway between James and Knox avenues. At the time of the shooting, Lucas was 17 years old. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has expressed its intention to charge Lucas as an adult, as it had previously done. Lucas, who was charged by summons, is scheduled to appear in court on February 6.
The case, which had initially faced dismissal, gained new momentum due to the involvement of co-defendant Yalayna R. Butcher-Griffin. She had been under a court order to appear during the trial in April but failed to do so, leading to difficulties in the case’s continuation. However, with Butcher-Griffin now in custody, the case has been revitalized. She remains jailed with a court hearing set for March 5, and her attorney has not yet commented on the allegations.