3rd suspect charged with murder in fatal Andover hit-and-run
Loren Gafner, 19, was charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide.
ANDOVER, Minn. (KMSP) - Murder charges have been filed against a third suspect 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's Office charged the driver, Loren James Gafner, 19, with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide on Tuesday.
Gafner’s bail was set at $1 million during his first court appearance Wednesday.
The Anoka County Attorney also filed juvenile petitions against the 17-year-old and 16-year-old suspects. Both were charged with second-degree murder. A motion to have the juveniles certified as adults was also filed.
According to the charges, 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.
The 16-year-old suspect told police the plan was to rob Robinson of the marijuana because they did not have any money.
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 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.