Devan L. Goode refused to hand over money to Malik Turner who attempted to rob him and some friends in St. Paul last summer. Turner, 19, told a judge Wednesday that he then proceeded to pistol-whip Goode with his 9mm handgun.
At that point Goode reached for the weapon and Turner fatally shot him as the two struggled over his gun, the young man said during a plea hearing in Ramsey County District Court Wednesday afternoon.
Turner, who fled in his vehicle after the shooting and dumped his gun in a river, was arrested after officers found Goode with a gunshot wound to his chest on Aug. 12.
The 21-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two of Goode’s relatives wiped away tears as Turner detailed what happened during the brief proceeding.
Turner pleaded guilty as charged to one count of unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony during the hearing.
He told Ramsey County District Judge Laura Nelson that he planned to rob a dice game he heard about underway near Harding High School when he showed up armed to the 1400 block of East Sixth Street around 4:30 p.m. that day.
He approached the group of players and told them all to hand over their money. Goode refused.
“He said he wasn’t giving up any money, and then I hit him with (my) gun and then he reached for the gun and then the gun went off,” Turner said.
“And you understand it was (your) gunshot that (killed Goode),” Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Daniel Vlieger asked.
“Yes,” Turner replied.
Following the shooting, Turner said he gathered up the stolen money and took off in his vehicle.
The 19-year-old is expected to be sentenced in December to about 18 years in prison.
Goode was a father to a one-year-old daughter when he was killed.