A St. Paul man who shot an auto theft suspect who walked into his yard was sentenced to three years of probation.
Ramsey County District Judge George Stephenson also ordered Vincent Nesta Trotter to attend his men’s group, which works with men who have been convicted of crimes.
Trotter was sentenced this week on one count of dangerous discharge of a weapon. The 37-year-old pleaded guilty in late October after the prosecution and defense negotiated a settlement.
Trotter, who has a permit to carry a handgun, was charged after officers who were searching for suspects who ran from a stolen car in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood heard gunshots coming from Trotter’s yard last April.
They found Jalik Combs, who police said had been driving the stolen car, wounded, and Trotter holding a handgun.
Trotter initially told officers that he shot Combs, 20, after he drove up to his house and saw the man standing on his property. He fired, Trotter reportedly told officers, when he instructed the intruder not to move and the man did.
Trotter’s account didn’t match what police say they uncovered from a security camera on his house.
That footage showed Combs walking away from Trotter and Trotter advancing on him before “a“muzzle flash appeared in the form of smoke from Trotter’s gun,” according to court documents.
Police recovered Trotter’s .45-caliber handgun and a holster, which was near the front tire of his car. Six spent .45-caliber casings also were found in the area.
Combs was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds to his upper arm and buttocks, and then booked into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of auto theft.
When officers interviewed Combs, he said he hadn’t been involved in the auto theft.
