Black Lies Matter...
2018-07-03 23:09:52 UTC
HASTINGS, Minn. A Minnesota man told investigators that a
married couple freaked him out before running them over in a
minivan, just one day after being kicked out of an apartment by
his family, according to a criminal complaint Monday charging
him with second-degree murder.
Prosecutors in Dakota County said 36-year-old Jonna Kojo
Armartey fatally struck 58-year-old Diane Peterson and 74-year-
old Roger Peterson of the Twin Cities suburb Eagan last Thursday
as they were walking near a strip mall. Police said they found
Diane and Roger Peterson struggling to breathe, and they later
died after being taken to the hospital.
Police arrested Armartey several hours later at an Apple Valley
hotel roughly 6 miles away after he abandoned the minivan.
This was not an accident, Dakota County Attorney James
Backstrom said in a statement announcing the charges. The
victims, in this case, appear to have been targeted by the
defendant, the reasons for which are unknown at this time.
Diane and Roger Peterson had been married for more than 37 years
and were on their typical walking route the evening they died.
A family member told The Associated Press that the family was
mourning on Monday. A memorial service at the couples church is
scheduled for later this month.
Armartey allegedly told investigators the couple freaked him
out, so he ran over them going fast and hit them hard,
according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities said Armartey and the Petersons did not know each
other.
Court records show that Armartey was on probation for three
prior felonies at the time of the incident for convictions that
included assaulting a correctional officer and a psychiatrist.
He was also civilly committed from June 2016 to December 2017
after a psychologist deemed he wasnt mentally competent to
proceed in one of the assault cases.
The criminal complaint said Armartey had a dispute with his
family at an apartment in Eagan the day before the Petersons
were hit, with Armartey thrown out of the apartment.
Armarteys attorney did not immediately return messages seeking
comment on his behalf Monday.
He remained in county jail on bail set at $1.5 million. His next
court appearance is July 12.
https://nypost.com/2018/07/02/man-accused-of-killing-couple-that-
freaked-him-out-police/
married couple freaked him out before running them over in a
minivan, just one day after being kicked out of an apartment by
his family, according to a criminal complaint Monday charging
him with second-degree murder.
Prosecutors in Dakota County said 36-year-old Jonna Kojo
Armartey fatally struck 58-year-old Diane Peterson and 74-year-
old Roger Peterson of the Twin Cities suburb Eagan last Thursday
as they were walking near a strip mall. Police said they found
Diane and Roger Peterson struggling to breathe, and they later
died after being taken to the hospital.
Police arrested Armartey several hours later at an Apple Valley
hotel roughly 6 miles away after he abandoned the minivan.
This was not an accident, Dakota County Attorney James
Backstrom said in a statement announcing the charges. The
victims, in this case, appear to have been targeted by the
defendant, the reasons for which are unknown at this time.
Diane and Roger Peterson had been married for more than 37 years
and were on their typical walking route the evening they died.
A family member told The Associated Press that the family was
mourning on Monday. A memorial service at the couples church is
scheduled for later this month.
Armartey allegedly told investigators the couple freaked him
out, so he ran over them going fast and hit them hard,
according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities said Armartey and the Petersons did not know each
other.
Court records show that Armartey was on probation for three
prior felonies at the time of the incident for convictions that
included assaulting a correctional officer and a psychiatrist.
He was also civilly committed from June 2016 to December 2017
after a psychologist deemed he wasnt mentally competent to
proceed in one of the assault cases.
The criminal complaint said Armartey had a dispute with his
family at an apartment in Eagan the day before the Petersons
were hit, with Armartey thrown out of the apartment.
Armarteys attorney did not immediately return messages seeking
comment on his behalf Monday.
He remained in county jail on bail set at $1.5 million. His next
court appearance is July 12.
https://nypost.com/2018/07/02/man-accused-of-killing-couple-that-
freaked-him-out-police/