County: 3 of 4 charged in drug slaying accused in similar case

Published 4:18 pm Friday, December 30, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS — Prosecutors said three of four people charged in a drug-related slaying in Minneapolis are also defendants in a similar fatal shooting in Shakopee.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said three people from Minneapolis and another from Blaine are charged with killing 31-year-old Richard Ambers in October.

County Attorney Mike Freeman said Ambers was trying to sell marijuana at a SuperAmerica station Oct. 29 when he was taken to the home of one of the defendants and shot in the car. Ayan Wahab, Derrick Smith, Tyrel Patterson and Brandy Jaques are charged in Ambers’ death.

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Jacques, Smith and Patterson are also charged with killing 42-year-old James Herron at his Shakopee home on Nov. 23.

According to a press release, prosecutors said Herron was a drug dealer the three were robbing when he was killed. Attorney Mike Freeman said Ambers was trying to sell marijuana at a SuperAmerica station Oct. 29 when he was taken to the home of one of the defendants and shot in the car.

Ayan Wahab, Derrick Smith, Tyrel Patterson and Brandy Jaques are charged in Ambers’ death.

Jacques, Smith and Patterson are also charged with killing 42-year-old James Herron at his Shakopee home on Nov. 23. Prosecutors say Herron was a drug dealer the three were robbing when he was killed.