MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A late-night dispute at a downtown Minneapolis bar turned explosive last November, culminating in the arrest and now, the sentencing of Conell Walter Harris, 29. Harris was handed a 57-month federal prison sentence today for illegally possessing a firearm, a charge stemming from the November 28th incident at 19 Bar.
According to court documents, Minneapolis Police responded to a disturbance call at the bar, where witnesses identified Harris as the man who brandished a handgun after being asked to leave. The situation escalated quickly after Harris refused to show identification to bar staff. When asked to leave, Harris allegedly became combative, pulling a loaded .45 caliber Glock model 30 from his pocket. Employees attempted to de-escalate, but Harris reportedly doubled down, making threatening statements.
The Glock, recovered by officers during Harris’s arrest, was later determined to be stolen. Harris didn’t go quietly, actively resisting officers and attempting to conceal the weapon before it was secured. He briefly left the bar before police arrived, but returned, continuing to cause a scene before being taken into custody.
Harris pleaded guilty in April to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Senior Judge David S. Doty delivered the sentence earlier today, adding three years of supervised release to Harris’s prison term. The conviction means Harris will be barred from possessing any firearms legally after completing his sentence.
The case was a joint investigation spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minneapolis Police Department. Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha H. Bates, successfully secured the conviction and sentencing.
The incident highlights the ongoing struggle to keep illegal firearms off the streets of Minneapolis. While the city grapples with rising violent crime rates, federal agencies and local law enforcement continue to prioritize cases involving illegally possessed weapons, sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated. The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division played a key role in building the case against Harris, demonstrating a commitment to combating gun violence in the region.
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