Rochester Shooting Investigation Leads to Gun Charges for Teens With Criminal Histories
Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- A shooting investigation has led to the filing of gun charges against a pair of Rochester teens.
Homestead Village Shooting Leads to Gun Charges Against Rochester 18-Year-Olds
The shooting occurred during a party on the night of March 18 at the Homestead Village Apartments, located at 862 Homestead Village Ln. SE.
A social media video of the incident shows a 16-year-old boy from Hayfield firing two gunshots at a garage at the property. No injuries were reported.
The alleged gunman was charged for the shooting in juvenile court less than three months later, according to court records.
Associate of Shooting Suspect ID'D
While investigating the shooting suspect’s social media, investigators identified 18-year-old Kartier Dominick Kotero of Rochester as an associate of the alleged juvenile shooter.
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Kotero had been involved in multiple gun-related incidents in 2023 and 2024, according to court documents.
Rochester police obtained a search warrant for Kotero’s phone number after seeing numerous firearm-related posts on his social media pages.
Police Review Social Media Posts, Phone Records
One post included a still video of a gun that matched the firearm used in the March 18 shooting. There were also messages between Kotero and the teen shooting suspect regarding the swapping of Glock firearm frames, according to court documents.
A review of Kotero’s phone records indicated Kotero was helping the Homestead Village shooting suspect with building firearms and obtaining firearm parts such as auto sears, a part that converts a firearm into a semi-automatic weapon, the court documents say.
Kotero discussed sending multiple packages of firearm parts and provided the March 18 shooting suspect with tracking numbers. They also talked about shootings, robberies and the sales of firearm parts and accessories, the charges say.
High-Risk Traffic Stop
Officers identified a vehicle associated with Kotero through their review of his social media accounts. Police found and conducted a high-risk traffic stop on the vehicle around 11:30 Friday morning in the 800 block of 16th Avenue SE.
Kotero was found in the vehicle and taken into custody, according to the court documents.
Another occupant in the vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Mitawan La Holt of Plymouth, fled from the vehicle on foot. He was seen holding his right side as he ran away, the charges say.
Gun Found Following Amid Foot Pursuit
At one point an officer in pursuit pointed his firearm at the 18-year-old.
Holt stopped for a moment, then took off into a nearby wooded area but was later captured, according to the complaints.
During the search for Holt, an officer and K-9 located a handgun with a sear switch and extended magazine along the path Holt fled upon.
Holt admitted to possessing the gun and claimed he found it on the ground, the charges say.
Prior Convictions
Holt is charged with possession of a machine gun conversion kit and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime. Kotero is facing the same counts and a charge of conspiracy to furnish a dangerous weapon to a minor.
Court records indicate both Holt and Kotero were convicted of violent crimes in juvenile court. Kotero received a 48-month stayed prison sentence for his conviction that is set to expire at the end of 2028.
Both young men made their first court appearances Monday morning. Kotero’s bail was set at $200,000 and Holt is being held on $50,000 bail.
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