A Richfield man charged with shooting an acquaintance nine times said he was defending himself from a bully, but evidence showed the victim appeared to have been repeatedly pistol-whipped before he was shot at close range, including four times from behind.
Jonathan Tadeo Bello-Sanchez, 21, was charged Tuesday with a single count of second-degree murder in the Saturday shooting death of Fernando Leon-Celis, 20, inside Bello-Sanchez's home. According to charges, Bello-Sanchez said the two were arguing about money when the shooting occurred, but the evidence points to other circumstances. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said the shooting may be gang-related, though he wouldn't specify what gang or who was a member.
According to the complaint:
Richfield police were called to Bello-Sanchez's home at 69th Street and 16th Avenue S., where Bello-Sanchez and his brother, Fred Bello-Sanchez, were arrested. Police went inside and found Leon-Celis dead of multiple gunshot wounds. A .22-caliber pistol was in a case near the front door in the living room. The gun was ready to fire with a round in the chamber, while the slide and barrel were covered in blood, consistent with a pistol-whipping.
Two other men and a woman were in the house at the time, police said, but were released after questioning.
In an interview, Fred Bello-Sanchez told police he arrived home from work and was trying to get in the locked house when he heard gunshots from inside. His brother allegedly said, "Don't come in. You don't want to see this. Call the police."
Fred Bello-Sanchez said he eventually made his way in and found Leon-Celis on the floor still breathing. Jonathan Bello-Sanchez told him to call 911, and Fred told police there had been a shooting while Jonathan followed a dispatcher's orders to put the gun away.
Fred Bello-Sanchez told police that his brother was regularly bullied by Leon-Celis and that he knew Jonathan had a gun, but that he rarely saw it.
Jonathan Bello-Sanchez told police that Leon-Celis came to his house and was allowed inside. Bello-Sanchez claimed he told Leon-Celis that "he did not owe him anything" and that Leon-Celis punched him in the face, so he punched him back. Then he said Leon-Celis went for the gun in his pants pocket when Bello-Sanchez pulled it out himself, fired a round into a bag in the garage, then shot Leon-Celis several times.
The Hennepin County medical examiner determined that Leon-Celis was shot once in his head through the left eye, twice in the chest and torso, twice in his left leg, once to the left of his buttock, once in each hip and once in the back.
According to Minnesota court records, Jonathan Bello-Sanchez has no serious criminal convictions. He will make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon. Fred Bello-Sanchez was released without charges.
Abby Simons • 612-673-4921
