WANTED: Cops Say ‘Serious Risk to Public Safety’ Following Columbia Heights Armed Home Invasion
(Top photo: Mykell Steffon Burton, circa 2016)
By MN Crime Watch, January 2, 2020
Mykell Steffon Burton, 25, is wanted in connection to an afternoon armed home invasion robbery in Columbia Heights on Dec. 27 and police say he’s a “serious risk to public safety,” according to a new criminal complaint.
From the Anoka County criminal complaint:
At approximately 1:36 pm on Dec. 27, 2019, officers from several law enforcement agencies responded to a report of a home invasion with a firearm at a residence located in the 400 block of 42nd Avenue Northeast in the City of Columbia Heights, MN.
Upon arrival, law enforcement identified five people who reported being inside the residence during the home invasion. Victim 1 said a man knocked on the door and he opened it. The man asked for directions and then pulled out a rusty, silver pistol. Victim 1 tried to close the door, but the man pushed the door open and grabbed him by the neck. The intruder said, “don’t move or I’ll shoot you.” The intruder pointed the pistol at Victim 1. The intruder hit Victim 1 with the pistol and made him go upstairs. The intruder went into multiple rooms and searched for money.
Victim 2 said she was napping in a bedroom when the intruder came into the room and pointed a silver handgun at her. The intruder yelled at her and asked where the money was. Victim 2 said the intruder located some cash. The police were advised that $380 and approximately seven grams of marijuana had been stolen.
Victim 3 said he was in an upstairs bedroom when he heard rumbling and wrestling. Victim 3 said Victim 4, a 17-year-old child, ran into the room and said Victim 1 “was gonna get shot.” Victim 3 opened the door and saw the intruder with a gun. The intruder pointed the gun at both Victim 3 and Victim 4, and he asked them where the money was. Victim 3 and Victim 4 jumped out of a second-story window in order to get away from the intruder.
Victim 5 said she was in a room downstairs when she heard someone knock on the door. She heard Victim 1 answer the door and then she heard a bunch of banging and wrestling. She heard Victim 1 yell “don’t shoot me, but don’t shoot me bro!” She also heard the intruder keep yelling “where’s the money?”
Officers found a rusty, silver pistol hidden inside a wooden tube against a fence near a residence approximately two blocks away. The pistol had a round in the chamber and a round in the magazine.
Officers also found a cell phone in the snow in the backyard of an adjoining house. The phone had a missed call from “Leo.” An officer swiped the screen and discovered that the phone was not locked. A Facebook account and Gmail account linked to the phone were associated with the name “Markell Burton.” An officer ran the name “Markell Burton” through multiple law enforcement databases, but did not locate anyone with that name. According to police records, the phone number saved as “Leo” belonged to Leonardo Holmes. Mr. Holmes was stopped by law enforcement on Dec. 26, 2019 and Mykell Burton was a passenger.
An officer located a photograph of Burton. An officer who saw a suspect leave the house when he initially arrived reported that there was a very strong resemblance between the suspect and the photograph of the Burton. In addition, two of the victims identified the Burton as the intruder during a photo lineup.
Officers have been unable to locate Burton. A complaint warrant is requested because the defendant is a serious risk to public safety and his location is not reasonably discoverable.
CRIMINAL HISTORY
Burton has four prior felony convictions since 2017 involving second-degree burglary, first-degree damage to property, fourth-degree assault of a peace officer and fleeing police in a motor vehicle. All four convictions in Hennepin County were stayed and other charges were dismissed in some of the cases. Burton was credited with time already served in jail and placed on probation in the four felony cases.
CHARGES
Burton has been charged with four felony counts related to the home invasion incident including first-degree aggravated robbery, first-degree burglary while in possession of a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary involving assault of a person on premises, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person previously convicted of a crime of violence.
If you know Burton’s whereabouts you are urged to call 911 with information. Warrant Number:196668.
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