A Hennepin County judge has convicted a Minneapolis man in a killing that prosecutors say started as a dispute over a $30 payment for sex and ended in gunfire. On July 17, the judge found 66-year-old Raymond Jones guilty of second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony and acquitted him of an intentional second-degree murder charge. The shooting happened inside Jones's apartment near West Broadway, and a sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 11.
Judge's ruling and case status
According to KSTP, Jones chose a court trial instead of a jury, and the judge returned a mixed verdict after hearing the evidence. The ruling found him guilty of second-degree murder "without intent while committing a felony" while clearing him on a charge of second-degree murder with intent. Jones remains in custody ahead of the September sentencing date, the report says.
What investigators say
Court documents reviewed by the Star Tribune say Jones told investigators he picked up the woman that day near East Franklin Avenue and paid her $30 for sex. The complaint says the woman tried to leave with the money, Jones and officers told investigators, and that Jones later told dispatchers she had pulled a knife. At one point, Jones allegedly told police he shot her "because she had my $30," according to the charging documents.
Sentencing and penalties
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11, the court docket shows, according to KSTP. Under Minnesota law, a conviction for unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony carries a possible prison term of up to 40 years, per Minnesota Statutes. Actual time behind bars will depend on how the judge applies state sentencing guidelines and any aggravating or mitigating factors in the case.
Why this matters locally
The woman has not been publicly identified and police have not released a motive beyond the statements in the charging documents, the Star Tribune reported. The case landed amid ongoing debates over public safety in Minneapolis and the risks faced by people who do sex work, and it will move into a sentencing phase that could put Jones behind bars for decades. Community groups and advocates did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
