15 years for fatal bar shooting

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, July 23, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for fatally shooting a man in a bar last August.

Ron Powell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Hennepin County court Tuesday ahead of a trial that was to begin Monday. In a deal with prosecutors, two other charges, second-degree assault and felon in possession of a firearm, were dropped.

The 43-year-old Powell admitted shooting at a man who had punched him in Champions Bar in Minneapolis Aug. 8. His assailant was struck and injured. But another bullet hit a man standing at the bar, 51-year-old Mark Stephenson, and killed him.

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Powell will get credit for 285 days already served in jail.