A 37-year-old man linked to the theft of five valuable puppies was shot dead on Tuesday night in Minneapolis, sparking a homicide investigation. According to FOX 9, Mikiyel Patton was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds on the 900 block of Newton Avenue North and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Minneapolis Police Department deployed SWAT teams to a neighboring house in search of potential suspects, as per Bring Me The News, but encountered no one when they raided the abandoned premises. Investigators have yet to make any arrests or suggest a motive for the murder, which the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office has officially classified as a homicide.
Just weeks before his death, Patton was charged with felony theft in Goodhue County. He stood accused of making off with five Platinum French Bulldog puppies valued at $15,000 apiece, as reported by FOX 9. State prosecutors alleged that Patton was holding the puppies for ransom, demanding $20,000 from the woman who was watching them on the claim that she owed him the amount. The condition and whereabouts of the puppies are currently unknown.
Additional charges preceded the dire incident, including second-degree assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a shooting in Duluth, as well as driving while intoxicated and driving with a revoked license in Blue Earth County, per court records. Patton had previously failed to appear for a court hearing, which led to the issuance of a warrant in September.
The Minneapolis Police Department has relayed to FOX 9 that there is no established link between Patton's violent death and the dog thefts. As the case is still actively under investigation, Minneapolis authorities have not disclosed any further details.
