Suspect wanted in Mall of America shooting arrested in Georgia

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A suspect wanted in connection to the deadly shooting at the Mall of America in December of 2022 was taken into custody in Georgia.

The U.S. Marshals Service, Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, in conjunction with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bloomington Minnesota Police Department, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lavon Longstreet, 17, on January 17 at a home on Kenridge Parkway in Decatur, Georgia without incident.

The shooting happened on December 23, 2022 inside the mall and claimed the life of 19-year-old Johntae Hudson, of St. Paul. 

Investigators say the shooting may have been related to a "long-standing feud" between the two groups involved. A group of five to nine people got into an altercation in Nordstrom when one of the males pulled out a gun and shot the 19-year-old multiple times, police said. The mall was placed on lockdown and eventually evacuated.

Three other people were charged in the crime in December. 

"This is another example of guns being placed in the hands of immature young people, resulting in deadly consequences in what was once safe public places. The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to work with our state and local partners to get these guns off the streets and enhance the security of our communities," U.S. Marshal Thomas Brown stated in a release sent to FOX 5.

Longstreet faces charges of second-degree murder and assault. He will remain in custody in Georgia awaiting extradition. 

During a news conference on Tuesday, Bloomington Police Chief said Longstreet's mother was arrested Tuesday for aiding and abetting.

"You cannot drive somebody (wanted for a crime) out of state, even if it's your son," said Chief Hodges. "You cannot kill somebody in a mall and think you're going to get away with it."

FOX 9 in Minneapolis contributed to this report.