Minneapolis man accused of killing neighbor: 'He deserved it'

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minneapolis man accused of fatally shooting his neighbor over a dispute about a broken lawnmower is now charged with second-degree murder.

According to the criminal complaint, witnesses told police 61-year-old Edward Frank Holzinger shot his neighbor 47-year-old Bruce Wayne Brown Tuesday evening.

That night, Minneapolis Police responded to a shooting at the 100 block of 15th Ave NE, where they found Brown lying on the sidewalk, bleeding from his chest. His niece was attempting to stop the blood.

When she first started to tend to him, she told police she heard Holzinger say, "He deserved it. He called me a pedophile. I know I'm going to jail and I don't care."

Emergency crews were unable to revive Brown. He had two gunshot wounds in his chest, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

A witness pointed out Holzinger, who was standing on the steps in front of his home, as the shooter to police when they arrived. Holzinger put his hands in the air and was arrested.

Brown's niece told police Brown and Holzinger had been arguing over a broken lawnmower. On Tuesday night, family members were with Brown at his home grilling hamburgers. Brown yelled out to Holzinger, who was out on his porch, and sarcastically asked if he wanted a hamburger. Holzinger told Brown to "come over and find out." Despite Brown's family's pleas to ignore the remark, Brown left his yard to go talk to Holzinger. Seconds later, they heard gun shots.

A witness, who rents a room in Holzinger's home, said she saw Holzinger sitting on his porch earlier that evening with a handgun. He told her he was "waiting for that son of a b---- Bruce" and if he ever came over again he was going to shoot him.

Police found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in Holzinger's living room.

Holzinger's first appearance is set for Friday. Prosecutors are asking for $1 million bail. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

FIRST REPORT: Neighbor dispute leads to fatal shooting in northeast Minneapolis