Minnesota State Wire

Edward Tiki Arrington, 45, has been charged with one count of carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, following a series of incidents in Minneapolis that resulted in the deaths of two women and serious injury to a child. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced the charges on Wednesday.

According to the complaint, the events began around 8 am on September 4, 2025, when multiple 911 calls reported a man with a gun near 334 Lake Street East in Minneapolis. The suspect was identified as Edward Tiki Arrington, also known as Troy Mike Payton.

Arrington was observed driving erratically, speeding, swerving into oncoming traffic, and driving on sidewalks before running a red light and crashing his red SUV into another vehicle. He then attempted to carjack several drivers at gunpoint. After successfully carjacking a black Volkswagen Passat, he moved dogs from his original vehicle into the newly stolen car and continued threatening other motorists and pedestrians with his firearm.

As Arrington fled the scene in the black Passat, he fired at another vehicle before leaving for North Minneapolis. Police issued an alert regarding the shots-fired incident involving the stolen Passat. Officers later located Arrington and attempted to stop him; however, he fled toward downtown Minneapolis.

During his attempt to evade law enforcement, Arrington ran another red light at Penn Avenue and Olson Memorial Boulevard and collided at high speed with a blue Ford Focus sedan. The crash killed two women in their twenties—one of whom was the mother of a six-year-old child who suffered severe injuries including bilateral femur fractures and traumatic brain injury.

Arrington’s criminal record includes prior convictions for assault, firearms offenses, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

If convicted on these federal charges, Arrington faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years up to life imprisonment; carjacking resulting in death is eligible for the death penalty under federal law.

“Two young women should be alive today. Instead, their lives were cut short by a senseless crime committed by a career criminal,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “They deserved better. We all deserve better. I am weary of this endless violence. Minnesota deserves peace. We will keep fighting to restore it.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara commented: “This violent suspect had an extensive criminal history and showed a complete disregard for the value of human life... We are grateful for the partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office as we all work to ensure that he is held fully accountable and that justice is pursued for the victims and their families to the fullest extent of the law.”

FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr., stated: “Two innocent young women died yesterday, and a young child was hospitalized, due to the reckless and senseless actions of Edward Tiki Arrington, aka Troy Mike Payton... Violent carjackings have permeated Minneapolis for far too long; these federal charges represent the commitment by the FBI, our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to reduce violent crime in Minnesota.”

The investigation was conducted by local police departments along with assistance from state patrols and federal agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Green is prosecuting this case.

A complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.