A man arrested for having pushed another man onto the tracks of the Minneapolis Light Rail, leading to that individual being struck and killed by a train, was released from custody without charges on Wednesday. According to local officials, the shove onto the tracks followed a fight between the two men on the platform.
The announcement of the man being released without charges came on Wednesday, when a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said charges were deferred pending toxicology results, a final autopsy report and further investigation.
The spokesperson added that though there is a video of the fight between the two men, including the victim being shoved onto the tracks, “raises questions and legal issues that must be resolved to ensure any possible charges are supported by sufficient evidence to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court and that the state is able to overcome possible defenses that could be raised.”
The full statement on the matter was, “Charges related to the death of an individual who fell onto the light rail tracks at the Hennepin Avenue/Warehouse District Station early in the morning on May 20, 2023, are being deferred pending toxicology results, a final autopsy report, and additional law enforcement investigation. There is clear Metro Transit video of the interaction between the decedent and the subject of the investigation, which begins inside a light rail car and continues on the station platform after they exited the train. The video raises questions and legal issues that must be resolved to ensure any possible charges are supported by sufficient evidence to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court and that the state is able to overcome possible defenses that could be raised.”
Earlier, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Reginald Snelling, 41, of Minneapolis, died from “multiple blunt force injuries and traumatic asphyxia due to collision with and compression by light rail train following physical altercation.”
Video of the horrific incident shows the suspect, Daquan Stephen Rogers, 29, shove the victim onto the train tracks.
Graphic:
Video shows the moment a man was pushed into the Light Rail and killed last week in Minneapolis.
The suspect was recently released without charges.
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) May 25, 2023
"*" indicates required fields
Rebecca Brannon reported that the “Suspect has another open case involving brawling charged by Metro Transit last month and a history of cases involving transit crimes and assaults.”
Commenting on Daquan’s release, Crime Watch Minneapolis said, “@HennepinAtty @MaryMoriarty couldn’t find a reason to hold the suspect Daquan Stephen Rogers, 29, in custody. He’s been released without charges despite another open case involving brawling charged by Metro Transit last month and a history of cases involving transit crimes and assaults. Of course, he was tossed plea deals in the assault cases dismissing the violent crime charges. Free to go on his merry way.”
Featured image credit: Hennepin County Sheriff