DULUTH, MN – A routine transaction at a Duluth gas station exploded into a violent assault and shooting on September 11th, culminating in the federal indictment of Joseph Francis Butler, 32, according to authorities. Butler, already a convicted felon, allegedly pulled a loaded Springfield .45 caliber pistol on a store clerk after an argument over change.
The incident, detailed in court documents, began with a dispute over a transaction. Butler reportedly went behind the counter and physically assaulted the clerk. During the ensuing struggle, a firearm became dislodged from Butler’s waistband. He then allegedly retrieved the weapon, leveled it at the clerk, and fired multiple rounds. Miraculously, the clerk avoided direct hits, suffering only powder burns and a graze wound.
Butler didn’t stop there. After the shooting, he fled the scene, but his escape was short-lived. Law enforcement, a combined effort from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Duluth Police Department, and the Bloomington Police Department, apprehended him in Bloomington with the same firearm used in the assault. He has remained in custody since.
Federal prosecutors have charged Joseph Francis Butler with one count of possessing a firearm as a felon – a serious offense given his extensive criminal history. Court records show Butler has multiple prior felony convictions in Cook County, Illinois, rendering him legally prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition.
He previously appeared before Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois in Duluth regarding a related complaint. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander D. Chiquoine and Esther Soria Mignanelli are leading the prosecution. This indictment is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegally armed felons and the commitment of federal agencies to pursue these cases.
It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is not a conviction. Joseph Francis Butler is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. However, the evidence presented thus far paints a disturbing picture of reckless violence and disregard for the safety of others. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
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