Charges: Homeless Man Shot Out Door Of Downtown Duluth Business During Burglary

DULUTH, Minn. – Serious felony charges have been filed against a man after a burglary and shooting of a downtown Duluth business.

James Eugene Ferry, 36

According to the criminal complaint, James Eugene Ferry, 36, whose address is listed in Duluth as “homeless” on the court records, shot out the front door of Namaste Gifts and Healing at 4th Avenue West and Superior Street before entering through the busted-out glass door.

Court records said he stole a few hundred dollars from the register and a healing stone on display.

Surveillance video captured the crime.   It happened around 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 13.

Officers eventually located Ferry a block away outside the Wells Fargo building holding a bag.

Namaste at the corner of 4th Ave. & West Superior Street

Inside that bag, police said they found broken glass, 9 mm casings like the ones found at the scene, along with some cash, the stolen stone from the store and meth, according to the complaint.

But what about the weapon?

Ferry is accused of telling officers he didn’t have a gun on him, but if he did, he said it would be behind a yellow sign on Michigan Street.

Officers never located a gun there, but they did find a baseball hat that Ferry was wearing during the time of the crime, as seen on surveillance video, according to court documents.

The most serious charge against Ferry is first-degree burglary with possession of a dangerous weapon, which comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Namaste has been in its location downtown for the past 12 years.