Shakopee landscaping business owner murdered, 18-year-old charged

An 18-year-old, Emilio Vallejo Ortiz, has been charged with the murder of a 53-year-old landscaping business owner in Shakopee, Minnesota. The victim's body was discovered on the evening of October 4 in Wilkie Park, located approximately 30 feet off a trail in a weed-covered area.

An autopsy determined the victim died from four gunshot wounds. Investigators recovered four spent 9mm shell casings and one live 9mm round at the scene. According to court documents, the victim appears to have been dragged into the area where he was found.

Police reports indicate that Vallejo Ortiz was an employee of the victim and may have been romantically involved with him. While the suspect initially claimed he had returned to his apartment by Saturday afternoon, cell phone data and surveillance footage from a Menards store suggest he remained with the victim into Saturday evening. One of the victim's vehicles was also located near the suspect's apartment in Brooklyn Center.