Hennepin County charges Minneapolis man with murder in 2020 drive-by killing of 18-year-old mother

Six years after south Minneapolis shooting, prosecutors bring second-degree murder charge

Hennepin County prosecutors have filed a second-degree murder charge against 33-year-old Malcolm Chan Johnson of Minneapolis in connection with a 2020 drive-by shooting that killed 18-year-old Arionna Buckanaga, a young mother who was preparing to graduate high school weeks later.

The fatal shooting occurred on May 4, 2020, as Buckanaga drove a Ford Mustang near the intersection of East 39th Street and Cedar Avenue South. Investigators say she was struck in the head by gunfire and the vehicle subsequently crashed. She later died from her injuries.

What investigators allege happened

Court filings describe a burst of gunfire directed at the Mustang from a tan Chevrolet Suburban traveling nearby. Investigators documented extensive gunfire in the incident, and the charging document describes 32 shots fired and two guns involved. Authorities also linked the gunfire to the Suburban’s driver-side area based on investigative findings outlined in the complaint.

The Suburban was later found abandoned about a mile from the shooting scene. Investigators documented damage consistent with gunfire, including bullet holes in the vehicle’s hood that were assessed as consistent with shots fired from the driver’s seat, as described in the charging documents.

Basis for the charge

Johnson is accused of being involved in the shooting and of firing during the incident. In the complaint, investigators say Johnson acknowledged firing at the Mustang but claimed he did not know Buckanaga was inside the vehicle when shots were fired. The murder charge filed is second-degree murder, which under Minnesota law can apply when someone causes death while committing or attempting certain felonies, even without an intent to kill.

Case posture and what comes next

The criminal case now moves through Hennepin County District Court, where prosecutors must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in court.

• Charge filed: Second-degree murder against Malcolm Chan Johnson, 33, of Minneapolis.

• Victim: Arionna Buckanaga, 18, who was a mother and was nearing her high school graduation at the time of her death.

• Incident date and location: May 4, 2020, near E. 39th Street and Cedar Avenue S. in Minneapolis.

This article is based on court records and publicly documented investigative details contained in the criminal complaint.