Witnesses Describe Fatal Rochester Apartment Shooting

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The man arrested as the suspect in the murder of a Rochester man last week was formally charged this morning in Olmsted County court.

Faces Murder and Other Charges

34-year-old Derrell Sheldon Williams is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the death of 31-year-old Carlton Gardner of Rochester. The victim was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound Thursday afternoon.

Victim Was Shot in the Neck

According to the criminal complaint, Rochester police responded to a report of a shooting at the Essex Park Apartments in the 900 block of 41st Street Northwest around 5:15 p.m. Thursday. When officers arrived, they found Gardner suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the neck. He was transported to St. Marys Hospital, where he died from his injuries approximately 45 minutes later.

Earlier Dispute Over Sugar Dumped in Gas Tank

The court document says witnesses provided information identifying Williams as the suspected shooter. One of the witnesses, described as Williams' significant other, told police that Williams and the victim had been involved in a dispute over a November 2025 incident in which Williams allegedly put sugar in the gas tank of the victim's vehicle.

Witness Statements

She described how Gardner and his girlfriend approached her and Williams in the parking lot of the apartment complex, leading to a verbal altercation. The criminal complaint says she was tending to her child inside her vehicle when she heard a gunshot from the area where Williams and Gardner were standing.

Another witness told police she saw Williams pull a black handgun from his waistband and point the weapon at Gardner as the victim backed away and raised a hand in self-defense. The criminal complaint states the witness then saw Williams fire a single shot at Gardner, who fell to the ground as Williams ran away.

The court document says investigators located a single 9 mm shell casing at the scene approximately 30 feet from the victim. The gun was not recovered.

Williams Admitted Shooting Gun

According to the criminal complaint, investigators located Williams the following morning by tracking his cellphone. When he was taken into custody, the court document says Williams was advised he was under arrest for murder and replied, "I know."

The charging document says Williams later told investigators he intended to fire the gun into the ground to stop Gardner from advancing toward him. He also stated that he did not realize he had struck Gardner or that the victim had died until hours later.

Threw Gun into Creek

Williams also directed investigators to a creek near 55th Street Northwest and West River Parkway, where he said he disposed of the weapon. He told investigators he disassembled the pistol and threw the pieces into the water.

Williams was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition following felony drug convictions in the Chicago area in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Conditional bail for Williams has been set at $1 million.

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