Prison Sentence Set For Man Who Shot Girl, 5, In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — Marquell Johnson was sentenced to 120-months, or 10 years, in prison for a drive-by shooting that wounded a five-year-old girl on Aug. 12 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday. Prosecutors were seeking 156-months in prison.

On Dec. 10, the 27-year-old Johnson was found guilty for drive-by shooting, second-degree assault and possession of a firearm, the latter charge for which he received a 60-month concurrent sentence to the 120-months he will serve.

"This is an appropriate sentence under the present Minnesota sentencing guidelines," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a statement.

"Prosecutors and Minneapolis police investigators did a great job with this case."

Johnson will begin serving his sentence Jan. 7, according to a news release.