A dispute over high-end sneakers preceded the shooting death of a 17-year-old in Plymouth

A 19-year-old man was charged with the shooting death of a 17-year-old outside an apartment complex in Plymouth last week in a dispute over high-end fashion trainers.

Augustus M. Sirleaf Jr., 19, of Plymouth, was charged in Hennepin County District Court on Monday with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 14 death of Yaseen T. Johnson, 17. , of Albertville, in the 9700 block of N. 37th Place.

Sirleaf turned himself in to police on Thursday after releasing his name and photo with an alleged accomplice seeking help in his capture. Sirleaf remains jailed in lieu of $1million bond ahead of a court appearance on Tuesday afternoon. Court records do not mention a lawyer for him.

Police said Monday evening they were continuing to search for Hans Madave, 19, of New Hope, who they believe also played a role in Johnson’s death. A third suspect, an 18-year-old man arrested last week in Golden Valley, has since been released without charge but remains under investigation, Police Chief Erik Fadden said.

The charges said Balenciaga was the shoe brand at the center of the flaw. Depending on the model, a pair can cost over $1,000.

According to the criminal complaint against Sirleaf:

Officers arrived in the parking lot and saw the fatally injured Johnson collapsed inside a Buick SUV with bullet holes in the windshield. A man approached officers and told them he was the driver of the SUV and had fled the vehicle when shots were fired.

The driver said he and Johnson came to the parking lot to buy shoes. Two men were there and got into the SUV, the driver said. Sirleaf gave Johnson one of the shoes in exchange for half the money. Sirleaf demanded the shoe back, Johnson refused and was shot by Sirleaf, the driver continued.

Officers located one of the Balenciaga-branded sneakers just outside the SUV and the other on the front passenger floor.

Surveillance video near the scene of the shooting showed two people getting into a Ford SUV parked nearby and with the 18-year-old waiting. As the SUV drove away, the video revealed the SUV’s license plate, allowing police to track down the driver.

The 18-year-old told police he drove Sirleaf and Madave to meet Johnson and plotted to rob him. After Johnson was shot, Sirleaf returned with Madave to the waiting SUV and said he had no choice but to shoot, the 18-year-old said.

Anyone with Madave’s location or other information about the case is urged to call the police hotline at 763-509-5177.