Northtown Mall shooting: Anoka man pleads guilty to misdemeanor charge

BLAINE, Minn. (FOX 9) – The man is accused of firing shots outside the Northtown Mall in Blaine, which led to the building go into lockdownentered a guilty plea on Tuesday.

What’s new?

Maurice Neylon, 21, was is suspected of two crimes in September for intentionally firing a dangerous weapon and threatening violence.

According to court documents filed Nov. 12, Neylon entered a plea to intentional discharge of a firearm endangering safety in exchange for the other charges being dropped.

Neylon’s sentencing is scheduled for January 28, 2025. He is being held on $1 million bail and remains in custody at the Anoka County Jail.

Context

On September 8, law enforcement officers responded to reports of gunshots outside the mall on Northtown Drive Northeast. The mall was locked down for several hours while police worked to clear the scene.

Authorities say the shots were fired in the parking lot and no one was injured. There was damage to at least one door and what appeared to be ammunition casings on the ground.

According to the charges, Neylon was arrested in the area of ​​University Avenue and Maple Lane after troopers saw him running away.

According to the complaint, Neylon was found with a gun when he was arrested. The gun was in a “locked” position, indicating it may have been fired recently. While in custody, police said Neylon asked them if the incident would be considered a “mass shooting,” the charges allege.

Police say firearms tests showed that four shell casings found in the mall parking lot matched Neylon’s gun, while four other shell casings came from a separate weapon. Four other people ran away after the shooting.

The charging document did not provide a motive for the shooting, but authorities have previously said it appeared to stem from an altercation between two groups.