Man shot during bar fight in Arden Hills dies, suspect now charged with murder

Nick Ferraro, Pioneer Press
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

A 36-year-old man shot during a bar fight in Arden Hills last month has died — and the alleged triggerman now faces a murder charge.

The man died Tuesday of the gunshot wound, according to an amended criminal complaint filed against 45-year-old Eric Eugene Baker of Forest Lake.

Baker, who had been charged with first-degree assault resulting in great bodily harm, is accused of second-degree murder without intent in connection with the March 25 shooting at Welsch’s Big Ten Tavern.

Baker also still faces two counts of felony possession of a firearm by an ineligible person. They were filed with last month’s initial charges.

Baker, who has nine prior felony convictions, remained at Ramsey County jail Friday in lieu of $800,000 bail.

Ramsey County sheriff’s office deputies were called to the bar at 4703 U.S. Highway 10 around 12:30 a.m. and saw a patron holding napkins to the chest of the shooting victim. A deputy who took over first aid saw that he had a gunshot wound that was gushing blood when pressure was removed, according to the criminal complaint.

The man, identified in the complaint by his initials, DK, was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where doctors removed part of his large intestine and colon.

“Subsequent surgeries could not save DK’s life,” the amended complaint read.

Deputies spoke to a man at the bar who said Baker had asked him for a ride “to grab something,” the charges read. He drove Baker to Baker’s girlfriend’s apartment, where he was inside for about 10 to 15 minutes.

He said they returned to the bar, where he then saw Baker and another man physically fighting, according to the charges. The man fell to the floor.

Deputies found a single 9mm shell casing. Bar surveillance video shows Baker with a handgun moments before the fight, according to charges.

The criminal complaint does not state why Baker and the man fought.

Baker was arrested about two hours later at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 2540 Cleveland Ave. in Roseville. He declined to provide a statement to authorities.

Baker’s felony convictions include aiding and abetting an offender, aiding and abetting theft, second-degree burglary and drug possession. A conviction for violation of controlled substance law makes him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition, according to charges.

Related Articles