Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Gas Station Gunfire

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The grimy streets of Minneapolis have once again seen justice served as Cortez Lamon Shipp, a 40-year-old Minneapolis man, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for his role in a gas station shooting that terrorized the city.

Court documents reveal that on August 5, 2019, officers from the Minneapolis Police Department arrived at the scene of a shots-fired call near Lowry Avenue and Logan Avenue North. Eleven discharged cartridge casings were found scattered on the street, and video surveillance footage painted a chilling picture of the events that unfolded.

The footage showed Shipp exchanging words with Johnnie Lamar Haynes, 33, outside the gas station following a previous confrontation between Haynes and two other men. Minutes later, those two men returned to the scene in their vehicle, only to be met with gunfire from Haynes. The bullets struck a nearby business, causing panic and forcing employees to seek shelter.

Shipp pleaded guilty to one count of possessing ammunition as a felon on January 8, 2020. His previous felony convictions in Hennepin County make him legally prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition at any time. Haynes was convicted by a federal jury on August 3, 2021, for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, with his sentencing scheduled for January 28, 2022.

Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright.

This harrowing case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a joint federal, state, and local initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. The program’s success lies in its evidence-based approach to identifying community violence issues and crafting comprehensive solutions. Through PSN, enforcement efforts are focused on the most violent offenders, and partnerships with prevention and reentry programs seek long-term reductions in crime.

The ATF and Minneapolis Police Department conducted the investigation that led to Shipp’s conviction, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez prosecuted the case.

RELATED: Fentanyl, Speed & 5 Deaths: 17 Years

RELATED: Moore Sentenced for Major Narcotics Ring Leadership