A St. Paul man will spend 30 years in prison for what prosecutors described as a robbery-for-cash that turned into a deadly home shooting in the city’s South Como neighborhood.
On Tuesday, a Ramsey County judge sentenced 28-year-old Gary Lamar Townsend for the killing of 37-year-old Andrew Gutzman, who was shot in the early morning hours of July 5, 2024. Court filings state that Gutzman was found dead inside his South Como home after what authorities say was a setup that spiraled into lethal violence.
Townsend pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and admitted aggravating factors that let the judge go above state sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors told the court that Townsend stole Gutzman’s phone and about $80 during the attempted robbery, bluntly characterizing the killing as being carried out "for a quick buck - $80" in court. As reported by Pioneer Press.
How prosecutors say the setup unfolded
According to prosecutors, the crime started with a setup: a woman allegedly lured Gutzman back to his house while a third accomplice joined in with the intent to rob him. Police responding to the scene found Gutzman in a home on the 900 block of Hatch Avenue near Chatsworth Street in South Como. Charging documents say he was shot as he stepped out of the shower during the confrontation, turning what was supposed to be a quick score into a fatal encounter. Those details were outlined in charging records and early coverage of the case. As reported by CBS Minnesota.
Pleas and co-defendants
One alleged accomplice, 29-year-old Sabrina Anne Martens, agreed to plead guilty to first-degree aggravated robbery under a deal that calls for a four-year prison term. As part of that agreement, she is expected to testify against Townsend and a second man charged in the case.
Prosecutors say that second defendant, Diondre Antwon Whitfield-Smart, faces murder and related counts. He has pleaded not guilty, and a court trial is scheduled for October. Townsend’s plea included admissions about aggravating factors, including that the killing took place in a location where the victim had an expectation of privacy, which prosecutors argued justified the tougher-than-guidelines sentence. As reported by Pioneer Press.
Background and past record
Court and public records show Townsend had previously been convicted in a 2016 shooting and served nearly 11 years before his release in February 2024. That earlier case and the fact that he was only months out of prison were both highlighted in court during Tuesday’s sentencing.
Gutzman, 37, was identified by family following the July 2024 killing. His obituary notes services and remembrances from relatives and friends, offering a quieter portrait of the man at the center of a case now defined by courtroom transcripts and charging documents. As reported by Star Tribune and Kok Funeral Home.
Ramsey County prosecutors and the judge framed the 30-year term as a response to what they called a senseless killing during a low-level robbery that escalated into deadly violence. With Townsend now sentenced and Whitfield-Smart’s trial scheduled for October, the case is expected to remain on the Ramsey County court calendar through at least the fall.
