Burnsville Dollar Tree Shooting: Man Pleads Guilty To Murder

BURNSVILLE, MN — Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced Tuesday that Grant David Hendrickson, age 28, of South St. Paul, pled guilty to murder and attempted murder. The Nov. 7, 2016 shooting left Donald Joseph Hortsch, age 69, of Rosemount dead. It also left a 26-year-old male paralyzed below the waist after he was shot twice.

According to police, one bullet intended for this victim traveled through an aisle shelf and struck Donald Hortsch, who had been shopping in the store. Judge Michael Mayer accepted the guilty pleas and scheduled Hendrickson’s sentencing for June 19.

Hendrickson remains in custody without bail pending his sentencing, according to a news release. Backstrom commented: "We are pleased to have brought this man to justice for this violent and senseless crime."

Backstrom extended his sympathy to the family and friends of Donald Hortsch for their great loss. Backstrom also expressed his hope for the continued recovery of the other shooting victim who suffered great bodily harm in this case.

According to the criminal complaint, shortly after 12:00 p.m. on Nov. 7, Burnsville police officers responded to a call at the Dollar Tree store.

There, officers discovered two victims of gunshot wounds inside the store. Donald Hortsch died as a result of a gunshot wound to his head. The 26-year-old male sustained two gunshot wounds, one to his right leg and one to his upper abdomen.

While responding, officers were advised that the shooter had left the store driving a tan or beige automobile along with a description of the suspect. An officer stopped a vehicle matching the description and apprehended Hendrickson without incident.

Officers interviewed several witnesses, including the girlfriend of Hendrickson. She told investigators that she went to the Dollar Tree store after 10:00 a.m.

At the Dollar Tree store, she and a male employee had a verbal altercation about his family being evicted from an apartment due to her complaining. During this argument she learned that Hendrickson was a sex offender, which she had no knowledge of. After leaving the store around 11:00 a.m., she received a call from Hendrickson while he was at class at St. Paul College.

She told him about the confrontation she had at the Dollar Tree store and that she had learned he was a sex offender, according to authorities. Another witness stated that as she was preparing to checkout, she heard a scuffle towards that back of the store.

She said she saw a male exit the store and then reenter a short time later, firing a gun. She saw the male walk to the back of the store and heard at least one more shot as she exited the store. While in her vehicle she saw the male exit the store, enter a four-door, tan colored sedan, and drive away. She followed the vehicle and observed the male throw what she believed to be a gun out of his vehicle in a nearby dumpster area.

She later identified Hendrickson and the vehicle, according to police. Officers located a 9mm handgun in the dumpster area that was described. After the shooting, Hendrickson’s girlfriend received a phone call from him during which Hendrickson admitted he had just shot two people, according to the criminal complaint.

Image via Dakota County Jail