A Minneapolis "joke" turned fatal over the weekend when a man was dragged for blocks and run over after his van was taken, according to newly filed charges. Officers tried to save him at the scene, but he later died from what prosecutors describe as catastrophic injuries.
Gerald Nicolas Cepeda, 25, is now charged with one count of second degree murder. Prosecutors say he stole the victim's van during an encounter in south Minneapolis on Saturday and drove off while the owner clung to the vehicle. Charging documents list extensive trauma, including cardiac and aortic lacerations, a lung laceration, multiple broken ribs, a fractured femur, and the amputation of a toe, all contributing to the victim's death. The van was later found abandoned a few blocks away, keys still in the ignition and the victim's dogs left inside, according to charges filed in Hennepin County and reported by FOX 9.
Surveillance, the scene, and the 'joke'
Investigators say surveillance cameras from multiple angles captured the theft. The video allegedly shows Cepeda loitering in the area, then slipping into the driver's seat as the victim let his dogs out of the van. The victim is seen hanging onto the door as the vehicle accelerates, dragged along the street until the van turns onto East 18th Street and the victim is thrown into the air and struck.
According to the complaint, Cepeda told police he was "just playing a joke and was going to bring [his vehicle] back." He was arrested on Tuesday, FOX 9 reported.
Charges and next steps
Prosecutors filed the murder charge in Hennepin County, where the case will move through the criminal court system, starting with initial appearances and pretrial hearings. Officials have not yet released the victim's name. Investigators are asking anyone with video or information to come forward as they work to build the case.
Local context
The killing lands in a city still wrestling with a stubborn pattern of violent robberies and carjackings that spiked after 2019 and have bounced around year to year. Recent numbers show some drop off from the pandemic era, but city officials say the problem is hardly solved. A Star Tribune analysis found that while carjackings and vehicle thefts declined in 2024, they remain a major safety concern for residents.
In another recent case, a separate teen carjacking spree ended with a crash and four arrests, a reminder of how quickly these incidents can unfold across Minneapolis neighborhoods.
Investigators say the charging documents and the collected surveillance footage will be key in establishing intent and causation as the prosecution moves forward. Authorities are urging anyone with information, including phone or doorbell camera video, to contact Minneapolis police or CrimeStoppers.
