Murder Charge Filed in Deadly St Paul Home Invasion

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) — A St. Paul man is charged with killing a father of two during an apparent home invasion in Maplewood last month.

Thirty-year-old Brandon Lamar Cooper was charged Friday with second-degree murder in the Nov. 7 shooting death of 31-year-old Justin Niles Wright.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says Cooper reportedly is part of a burglary ring that targets marijuana dealers. Cooper already was in custody in connection with a Minneapolis burglary.

According to the complaint, Wright's girlfriend told officers she awoke to a strange voice just outside the bedroom saying, "Tell me where it's at." She said Wright also was in the hallway and she saw him lunge toward a dark figure, and then heard a single gunshot.

Wright's two children were not home. His girlfriend was not hurt.