Man accused of fatally shooting girlfriend in SUV with infant son

Published 7:24 pm Friday, April 18, 2014

ST. PAUL  — A St. Paul man is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend while she sat in the back of an SUV with their infant son.

Nineteen-year-old Timothy Hendricks is charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Twenty-year-old Michelle Marie Ploetz of St. Paul was taken off life support at Regions Hospital and died from a gunshot wound to the head.

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According to the complaint, Hendricks and Ploetz had gone to dinner with Ploetz’s father Wednesday so Hendricks could see his 8-month-old son.

After dinner, Ploetz’s father was driving when he heard a “pop,” pulled over, heard another “pop” and tried to wrestle the gun away from Hendricks.

Hendricks told police he was hearing voices and “just snapped.” A defense attorney has not been appointed yet.