MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 26-year-old Bovey, Minn. man has been sentenced for murder in a Grand Rapids double shooting.
William Levi Payne was specifically sentenced to 52.5 years in prison, of which Payne must serve a minimum of 35 years in prison and, upon his release, be on supervised release for 17.5 years.
Last month, Payne pled guilty to seven felony counts, including one count of second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, terroristic threats, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and one count of violation of an order for protection.
On Dec. 8, 2012, the Grand Rapids Police responded to a shooting on the 500 block of 10th Avenue Northwest around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Upon arrival, they discovered that a man and a woman had been shot. They were transported to a Duluth area hospital in critical condition. They have been identified as 32-year-old Paul Russell Johnson and 59-year-old Rosemary Oberg-Johnson, both of Grand Rapids.
Another person, identified only as S.I.P., was inside the residence at the time of the shooting. She told police that she was inside the bathroom when she heard Payne yell and multiple gun shots. She left the bathroom and saw Payne fire a gun. Payne then allegedly pointed the gun at her and said, “you come with me right now, if you don’t I’ll kill you, too.”
Payne then grabbed S.I.P and dragged her to her car and ordered her to drive towards Marble, Minn., the complaint said.
According to the criminal complaint, Payne later called 911 using S.I.P.’s phone and reported that he just killed two people and that law enforcement could come and pick him up.
