A Connecticut couple suspected of stealing nearly $1 million in merchandise from Lululemon stores across the country was charged with organized retail theft in Ramsey County on Monday.

The criminal charge, related to theft at the trendy women’s athletic wear retailer in Roseville, is the first of its kind in Ramsey County since the state Legislature created it in 2023.

Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, and Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, were charged with one count each of Organized Retail Theft with a connection to a nationwide organized theft incident spanning several states, including Minnesota.

“Because of the outstanding work of the Roseville Police investigators — including their new Retail Crime Unit — as well as other law enforcement agencies, these individuals accused of this massive retail theft operation have been caught,” said a Ramsey County attorney’s office spokesperson. “We will do everything in our power to hold these defendants accountable and continue to work with our law enforcement partners and retail merchants to put a stop to retail theft in our community.”

Roseville police determined that at least $24,000 in merchandise was taken from the Lululemon store at Rosedale Center. The pair is suspected of having stolen more than $1 million in merchandise across several states.

Prosecutors asked that each defendant be held on $1 million bail. However, Lawes-Richards was given a $30,000 bail with conditional release that includes weekly check-ins because she has ties to Minnesota, or a $200,000 bail for an unconditional release. Richards was given a $100,000 bail with conditional release of weekly check-ins, or a $600,000 bail for unconditional release.

— Kristi Miller

Teen gets 16 years for fatal robbery

A St. Paul teen was sentenced Monday to 16 years in prison for fatally shooting a 24-year-old man in the back during a robbery in the city’s Frogtown neighborhood two years ago.

Daeshon Lee Tucker, 18, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree unintentional murder in the Oct. 11, 2022, killing of Marcus Darnell Miller of St. Paul. Tucker was 16 at the time of the shooting.

The length of the prison term, which is the top of state sentencing guidelines, was included in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

According to the criminal complaint, Miller and his girlfriend were walking in the 700 block of Thomas Avenue when a vehicle drove onto the sidewalk in front of them and two males got out carrying handguns. At some point, the woman told police, the driver started shooting at Miller, who fell to the ground as he ran.

Police used surveillance footage to gather the first two letters of the SUV’s Minnesota license plate. They learned the car was reported stolen in Minneapolis that day. Police recovered the SUV two days later and found Tucker’s palm print on the exterior rear passenger door, according to the complaint.

— Nick Ferraro

Man, 24, dies following shooting on Nov. 5

A 24-year-old St. Paul man has died more than a week after he was shot in the head near Rice Street and University Avenue.

Officers responding to the shooting just before 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 found Dejaun Hemphill, 24, unconscious and not breathing, police said.

St. Paul Fire Department medics took Hemphill to Regions Hospital, where he remained until he died Friday.

No one was under arrest as of Monday afternoon.

Investigators have talked to witnesses and are working to determine who shot Hemphill. Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650.

The homicide was the 29th of the year in St. Paul, matching the number from the same point last year.

— Mara H. Gottfried

Pedestrian, 24, killed in collision on U.S. 61

A 24-year-old man was struck and killed Monday morning on southbound U.S. 61 in Maplewood, according to the State Patrol.

Authorities say the driver of a 2024 Kia Sportage heading southbound on Highway 61 near Minnesota 36 struck the pedestrian at about 5:45 a.m.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity and hometown were not immediately available Monday evening.

— Kristi Miller

Hastings woman dies in I-494 collision

A 39-year-old driver from Hastings died Monday morning in a highway crash with a semi in South St. Paul.

The woman was driving a Chevrolet Malibu when she rear-ended a tractor trailer “at a high rate of speed,” according to the Minnesota State Patrol. It happened at 4:27 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 494 near Fifth Avenue.

The State Patrol plans to release the woman’s name on Tuesday.

The driver of the semi, a 39-year-old man from Holmen, Wis., was not hurt.

— Mara H. Gottfried