2 juveniles charged with murder in fatal Andover hit-and-run
Tristan Gene Robinson, 17, of Nowthen was killed in a hit-and-run in Andover, Minnesota Friday night. Police are investigating his death as a murder.
ANDOVER, Minn. (KMSP) - Murder charges have been filed against two of the three teenagers suspected in the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed 17-year-old Tristan Robinson last Friday.
Robinson died after being dragged by a car used during a drug deal. The Anoka County Attorney has filed juvenile petitions against a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old boy. Both have been charged with second-degree murder.
Prosecutors have until Wednesday to file charges against the driver, 19-year-old Loren Gafner.
According to the juvenile petition, Robinson had been using Snapchat to set up a deal to sell 14 grams of marijuana. But as the exchange was taking place, the 17-year-old suspect grabbed the drugs and tried to run back to the car, where Gafner and the other suspect were waiting.
As Robinson tried to prevent him from closing the door, one of the other suspects pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. Witnesses said Robinson was being dragged by the car when Gafner, the driver, intentionally ran him over and sped away.
Authorities arrested the two juveniles on Sunday. Gafner was arrested on Monday in Isanti County, where he had been attempting to hide out at a friend’s house. His car was recovered a few miles away.