A 30-year-old man is facing felony charges after prosecutors say he tried to walk out of a Brooklyn Center liquor store without paying, then turned violent when employees tried to stop him, striking one clerk with a large stick and stabbing both workers with a sharpened piece of wood. Daquairus Nathaniel Black is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and fourth-degree criminal damage to property.
According to MN Crime, Brooklyn Center police were dispatched to the Brooklyn Center Liquor Store at about 4:05 p.m. on October 28 after a customer complaint. A case page from mncrime.com confirms officers were sent to the store at that time, describing the information as an allegation sourced from a criminal complaint. When officers arrived, they reportedly found broken bottles, spilled alcohol, and a large stick or branch inside the store.
Confrontation Began Over an Unpaid Bottle
Per the criminal complaint, Black allegedly placed a bottle of alcohol on the counter as if to purchase it, then took the bottle after an employee removed its security tag and walked toward the door without paying. Employees stopped him and asked for the bottle back, the complaint states. That confrontation is when the situation escalated, according to the station's report.
Prosecutors say Black swung a large stick and struck a male employee, then stabbed both employees with a smaller, sharpened stick. The male employee later told officers that Black struck him in the head with the large stick. Employees ultimately held Black down for everyone's safety, per the complaint.
Charges Reflect Robbery, Assault and Property Damage
Prosecutors also allege that Black smashed wine bottles throughout the store and threatened to kill the employees during the encounter. Officers reportedly observed the broken bottles and spilled alcohol upon arrival. The aggravated robbery charge alleges that Black used force and a weapon to take or attempt to take store property, while the two counts of second-degree assault stem from the attacks on both employees with sticks. The criminal damage charge relates to the destruction of bottles and alcohol inside the store.
The complaint also notes that Black has prior felony convictions, per the same account. He is identified in a Hennepin County jail booking photo tied to the case. The complaint against him was filed on October 30.
What the Charges Could Mean
Under Minnesota law, a person who inflicts bodily harm while committing a robbery may be guilty of first-degree aggravated robbery, an offense that can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $35,000, or both. Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 44 other cities. Felony arraignments and trials in cases like this one are held before the Fourth Judicial District at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
