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Murder charges filed in downtown Mpls. shooting

Surveillance tape shows Varnell Allen pistol whipping his victim, dropping the weapon and then picking it up to fire a single shot.
Credit: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
Varnell Allen is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of a man in downtown Minneapolis Saturday.

MINNEAPOLIS — An altercation that began with a man yelling out a car window in downtown Minneapolis Saturday ended in the shooting death of an Apple Valley man, and now the person accused of pulling the trigger is charged with murder. 

A criminal complaint details the allegations against 23-year-old Varnell Allen of Minneapolis. Investigators say 21-year-old Enzo Herrera Garcia was walking downtown near Hennepin Avenue and 8th Street South with his longtime girlfriend around 10:20 p.m. when a silver vehicle driven by Allen pulled up alongside them. Garcia's girlfriend tells police people inside began yelling at them, he yelled something back and then two men jumped out of the vehicle. 

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Surveillance images show Allen pistol whipping Garcia, and prosecutors say the sound of the gun hitting Garcia's skull is clear on the videotape. During the fight Allen dropped his gun, and after picking it up police say he shot Garcia once in the chest. Officers arrived to find him bleeding profusely from his head and mouth, with a gunshot wound in his torso. He was not breathing, and did not have a pulse. 

Garcia was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. 

RELATED: Minneapolis Police investigating after shooting victim dies in hospital

As the two suspects drove away a witness recorded their license plate number. 

Homicide investigators traced the plate, which led them to a residence in South Minneapolis. When they saw Allen leave the residence and drive off, squads followed, and pulled him over a few miles later. 

When questioned police say Allen admitted to being downtown but denied involvement in the shooting. When pressed he reportedly admitted to his role in the murder.  

If convicted Varnell Allen faces a 40-year prison sentence. 

Friends of Enzo Herrera Garcia have started a GoFundMe page to cover funeral and burial expenses. 

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