MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the homicide investigation that led police to the Minneapolis apartment where a SWAT…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities arrested Amir Locke’s 17-year-old cousin Tuesday in connection with the homicide investigation that led police to the Minneapolis apartment where a SWAT team officer fatally shot Locke while conducting a search warrant. Mekhi Camden Speed was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the Jan.10 killing of Otis Elder. Prosecutors have filed a motion to have Speed tried as an adult; under Minnesota law, it’s presumed a child will face trial as an adult if they are 16 or older and the alleged crime would result in a prison sentence or was a felony involving a firearm. Speed appeared in a juvenile court hearing via Zoom on Tuesday. He was seated in a room at a large table at the juvenile detention center and was wearing a mask, which he pulled down to state his name for the judge. Two defense attorneys appeared on his behalf, but the family had not retained either of them, so the hearing was postponed until next week to give the family time to make a decision. Speed’s mother and other family members were in one of the attorneys’ offices. Speed is on probation in another case and Judge Stephen Smith ordered that Speed remain in custody, saying that based on the allegations, the court found “sufficient grounds to be concerned for public safety.” Locke’s death has sparked protests, with hundreds of people turning out for a rally Saturday in downtown Minneapolis and an immediate reexamination of no-knock arrest warrants. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey last week announced a moratorium on such warrants while the city brings in outside experts to study its policy. Some state lawmakers are pushing for a statewide ban except in rare circumstances. St. Paul police had obtained search warrants as part of their investigation into Elder’s death, including a warrant for the downtown Minneapolis apartment where Locke’s family said he had been staying. Minneapolis Interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman has said her department had warrants that would have required authorities to knock and not knock.
