Latest news with #Nathanael
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Homicide investigation yields data leading to second unrelated arrest
Mar. 19—18-year-old Gavin Skattebo arrested for felony firearm possession A second person has been arrested on an unrelated charge as a result of the investigation into the shooting death of Opoka James Bot Nathanael, 27. Eighteen-year-old Gavyn Riley Skattebo, of Austin, was arrested on Monday after video, dated to around 12:22 p.m. the day of the shooting, surfaced during the investigation into Nathanael's death on Feb. 15. The video allegedly shows Skattebo holding a Glock 9X19 handgun with an extended magazine. He has been charged with a single felony count of possession of ammunition or a firearm while being convicted or adjudicated delinquent for a crime of violence. Skattebo's criminal history reflects he was previously adjudicated as a delinquent for terroristic threats in 2019. According to the court complaint, an agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) reviewed content on Skattebo's cell phone on March 4, while investigating Nathanael's death when the video was discovered. The complaint states that in the video Skattebo's face is clearly visible and the gun appears consistent with the gun held by a juvenile in another video. The complaint goes on to say that the juvenile previously told police that the Glock was a gun Nathanael suspected of being stolen from him on Feb. 15. Prior to the video's discovery, a search warrant was executed at Skattebo's residence on Feb. 27, as part of the homicide investigation. Scenes from the video appear to match pictures of the residence taken during the warrant's execution. Skattebo declined to speak to law enforcement when he was arrested and has since been released from Mower County jail. His next court appearance will be for an initial appearance on March 31. Earlier this month, Owyn Enrique Raul Bellikka, 18, was charged with felony firearm possession in a case where similar to Skattebo, data was taken from a cell phone seized during the Nathanael investigation. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charge. That cell phone was recovered from the back of the vehicle in which Nathanael was shot. Photos and video taken from the phone allegedly show the juvenile charged in the February shooting brandishing a .45 handgun. Further investigation of the phone's data showed both the juvenile charged in Nathanael's death as well as Bellikka taking turns firing the handgun. According to the complaint, Bellikka was previously adjudicated delinquent for second degree assault with a dangerous weapon in July of 2023. Beillikka's next court appearance will be on April 3 for an omnibus hearing.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Adult certification hearing set for teen charged in deadly February shooting
Mar. 17—A date for the adult certification hearing regarding the 16-year-old charged in the February shooting death of 27-year-old Opoka James Bot Nathanael has been set for early May. The date was set Monday in Mower County District Court and will take place on May 12. The teen, who remains unidentified due to his juvenile status, has been charged with felony attempted second degree murder and second degree attempted murder in connection to Feb. 15 shooting death of Nathanael. Prior to that hearing, the teen will be in court for a review hearing on March 24. The shooting took place at around 1:35 p.m. on Feb. 15 when officers were dispatched to the area of Fifth Avenue NW and 11th Street NW. According to the court complaint, responding officers arrived and found Nathanael in the front seat of a black Chevrolet Traverse. He was pronounced dead a short while later. A second person in the vehicle had also been shot twice and was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin in a private vehicle before being flown to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. An autopsy determined that Nathanael had been shot seven times in the back, while the second victim had been shot twice. According to court documents, a psychological examination will be made of the teen during the lead up to the May 12 hearing, and will focus on several factors, among which are the seriousness of the alleged offense including the teen's level of participation. The examination will also look at any prior record of delinquency. Anything disclosed by the teen during this evaluation cannot be used as evidence.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Prosecution seeking to move case to adult court for teen suspect of February homicide
Feb. 28—The 16-year-old arrested in connection to the Feb. 15 shooting death of Opoka James Bot Lob Nathanael, 27, will have a March 7 hearing regarding the possibility of being charged as an adult. The Mower County Attorney's Office is seeking an adult certification in the shooting, in which the teen has been charged with one count of second degree murder with intent and one charge of second degree attempted murder. The shooting took place at around 1:35 p.m. on Feb. 15 when officers were dispatched to the area of Fifth Avenue NW and 11th Street NW. According to the court complaint, responding officers arrived and found Nathanael in the front seat of a black Chevrolet Traverse. He was pronounced dead a short while later. A second person in the vehicle had also been shot twice and was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin in a private vehicle before being flown to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. At the scene, officers discovered footprints in the snow leaving the vehicle and later learned that a third person in the vehicle had fled the scene. A witness also told police that they had heard gunshots and observed a black male exit the back passenger seat and run to the east. Two other witnesses described the suspect moving fast to the north on Eighth Street in the 600 block before ducking behind a garage. Officers were able to track the teen to a residence in the 700 block of Fifth Street NW. A teen witness at the home allegedly heard the suspect having a heated phone conversation before the shooting and that the suspect left the residence for a short amount of time. A pair of white Nike shoes were discovered at the home bearing the same tread marks as footprints found leaving the scene. The juvenile was taken into custody, but declined talking to officers. An autopsy determined that Nathanael had been shot seven times in the back. In an interview with the second victim, the male described picking up the victim and said that while he didn't know the teen, Nathanael did. He also said there was no warning that the teen would start shooting before hearing multiple gunshots. He also said that he was not aware of any feud between the two, but believed him to be the target as he was shot first. The complaint goes on to say that obtained video from shortly before the shooting appeared to show the vehicle pull up to the teen's house on Fifth Avenue NW. It allegedly shows Nathanael walk up to the house and return two minutes later. The teen then walks up to the vehicle and gets into the back seat of the vehicle. The video was taken just six blocks away from where the shooting took place.
