Maplewood man pleads guilty in 2023 Raspberry Island killing, again
A St Paul gang member has admitted in court for a second time that he fatally shot a -year-old man on Raspberry Island nearly two years ago after a dispute over a rap song Romello Markell Ifonlaja-Randle of Maplewood pleaded guilty Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court to intentional second-degree murder not premeditated and possession of a firearm with no serial number in the killing of -year-old Marcus Anthony Baker Jr of St Paul at the Mississippi River park on Aug Marcus Anthony Baker Jr Courtesy of Sade Whitmore Ifonlaja-Randle pleaded guilty to the killing in October however a judge allowed him to withdraw the plea in February after a mistake over his criminal history total meant he faced more years in prison than what was outlined in his agreement with the prosecution The event moved toward a trial After this week s plea Ifonlaja-Randle s new sentencing was scheduled for Aug The state will continue to argue that Ifonlaja-Randle receive a prison term of just over years which would fall in the middle of state sentencing guidelines revealed Ramsey County Attorney s Office spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein Ifonlaja-Randle s attorney will continue to seek the low end of the guidelines which is just over years according to the latest plea document Two punches three shots Ifonlaja-Randle stated the court that he was at Raspberry Island with friends and intended to set up equipment to shoot a music video Observers declared four to five males approached Baker who was in a Chevrolet Suburban SUV One communicated Baker to shut off his music which was by a local rap artist affiliated with East Side gangs according to the criminal complaint Baker required Ifonlaja-Randle if he was from the West Side and he replied the dub the complaint states After Baker didn t turn off the music Ifonlaja-Randle hit Baker twice in the face and then shot him when he tried to get out of the conveyance Ifonlaja-Randle ran across the bridge Romello Markell Ifonlaja-Randle Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Ifonlaja-Randle declared in court in October that during a conversation with Baker whom he didn t know he pulled out a mm and shot him three times And what did you think would happen when you shot him Ifonlaja-Randle s attorney petitioned him according to the transcript Nothing I didn t I didn t think he replied But it was highly likely that with three bullets he would die Is that fair to say his attorney appealed I suppose yes he replied Officers sent to the scene about p m determined Baker in the back seat of the SUV and he was pronounced dead at Regions Hospital An autopsy evidenced Baker was shot in the right hip right elbow and abdomen which perforated his chest diaphragm kidney and back DNA evidence Officers were sent back to Raspberry Island two days after the shooting to collect a handgun lying on rocks on the south side of the bridge that connects Raspberry Island to Harriet Island Boulevard A test firing of the gun connected it to a casing exposed at the murder scene An analysis by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension uncovered Ifonlaja Randle s DNA on the gun s laser light attachment and Baker s DNA on the gun s muzzle area the complaint says Investigators analyzed Ifonlaja Randle s phone records and revealed he was in the Raspberry Island area at the time Baker was killed Related Articles Opening arguments heard in Sen Nicole Mitchell s burglary trial Noah Feldman No the establishment can t just take away your citizenship Currently we get justice sister of chef fatally shot at St Paul funeral reception says in court Second defendant admits to role in fatal shooting of South St Paul father during marijuana robbery Ramsey County to pay million to woman raped by prison movement guard Police declared Ifonlaja Randle meets criteria to be considered a member of the Shoota Boy gang which is associated with St Paul s West Side Baker s mother Sade Whitmore reported the Pioneer Press her son was a graduate of Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights and that he was not a member of a gang Six other charges prosecutors filed against Ifonlaja Randle in the development will be dismissed at his sentencing as part of the plea agreement two counts of crime committed for the benefit of a gang second-degree unintentional murder while committing felony assault second-degree assault possession of a firearm by a person who was ineligible due to a conviction of a crime of violence and second-degree attempted murder for firing into the SUV which included others besides Baker Ifonlaja Randle has three prior felony convictions as an adult two first-degree aggravated robberies and fourth-degree assault and each make him ineligible to possess firearms
