A 21-year-old Minneapolis man on supervised probation has been charged in the fatal shooting of a parking lot employee who stepped in during what police describe as a theft outside a south Minneapolis business. Roger William Martin, 46, was found with a gunshot wound on Oct. 30 in the fenced employee lot at Cornerstone Parking Group on the 2600 block of 32nd Avenue S. Authorities arrested Carmello Cruz Lynn of Minneapolis, and prosecutors allege he is responsible for the shooting.
Charges and Evidence
Prosecutors filed formal charges on March 2, and court records show Lynn remained in jail in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of a March 4 court appearance, according to the Star Tribune. Investigators say fingerprints collected from an idling Hyundai at the scene matched Lynn, and officers recovered a pocketknife in that vehicle that matched one reported stolen from an SUV in the lot. Video surveillance reportedly shows two people getting out of the Hyundai, with one entering the SUV while the other opened its driver’s door. Police arrested Lynn and an accomplice after tracing the Hyundai, according to the charging documents.
What Police Say Happened
Police Sgt. Garrett Parten said a juvenile was also arrested and that charges were submitted for consideration, according to the Star Tribune. Authorities say the two suspects initially blamed each other for the shooting, leaving prosecutors to sort out who pulled the trigger. So far, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has charged only Lynn in Martin’s death.
Workplace Violence in Perspective
Homicides make up a relatively small share of on-the-job deaths, but research and federal data show that workplace violence remains a stubborn risk for workers who confront suspected thieves or step into heated disputes. The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Bureau of Labor Statistics analyses highlight hundreds of workplace homicides in recent years and point to prevention tools such as security cameras, better lighting, and written safety policies to lower the odds of violent encounters, according to NIOSH.
Legal Status and Next Steps
Lynn faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of armed robbery and is scheduled to appear in Hennepin County District Court on March 4. Prosecutors are expected to review the physical evidence, including fingerprints and the pocketknife, as they build their case. Police say potential charges involving the juvenile suspect have been submitted to prosecutors for review.
Cornerstone Parking Group issued a brief statement expressing sadness over the loss of an employee and offering condolences to Martin’s family. Investigators continue to ask anyone with tips or video footage from the morning of Oct. 30 to contact Minneapolis homicide detectives.
