FRAZEE, Minn (KWAD) – Court records filed this week reveal that a deadly shooting in Becker County early Saturday morning stemmed from what investigators believe was a robbery gone wrong.
Arthur Deshun Campbell, 21, of New York Mills, is being held on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of 19-year-old Bryson Andrew May of Frazee. A 16-year-old male is also being held in juvenile detention in connection with the case, according to the Becker County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities were called to a residence in Frazee shortly after 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, after receiving a 911 call reporting a disturbance. While deputies were en route, dispatchers received a second call reporting shots fired at the home. When deputies arrived, they found May suffering from gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were performed at the scene, and May was transported to Essentia Health–St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to court documents, two juvenile girls who were inside the home told investigators that Campbell and another male began pounding on the front door just after 2:30 a.m. When May opened the door and recognized Campbell — who was wearing a ski mask — he attempted to close it. The suspects then forced their way inside the residence. The girls told police the suspects demanded money and a pair of basketball shoes. One of the girls reported that Campbell went upstairs, forced his way into her bedroom, struck her with a handgun, and threatened to kill her friend. She told investigators she then heard a gunshot from downstairs.
The second girl gave a similar account, telling authorities that Campbell went upstairs while the other suspect remained downstairs, pointing a handgun at her, May, and May’s mother. May’s mother told investigators that Campbell later came back downstairs and fired two additional shots. She remained with her son until paramedics arrived.
Campbell and the juvenile accomplice fled the scene in a vehicle but were arrested approximately 10 minutes later, authorities said. Investigators reported that another juvenile and an adult were also inside the vehicle at the time of the arrest. Two handguns were later recovered from a mailbox near the scene of the shooting.
According to the criminal complaint, Campbell told investigators he was “blackout drunk” and had little memory of the incident. He claimed the juvenile fired the first shot and said he later attempted to shoot May in the leg to prevent him from chasing them as they fled. Campbell told police he did not know May.
If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.