Indictment: Man that killed Chazz Toney shot the ‘wrong person’ the previous day
Branden Russell King
(St. Louis County Jail)
DULUTH, Min. – An apparently mistake in identity lead to a man being shot in Duluth, that is according to court documents.
An indictment claims a person was shot accidently on October 9, 2025 when then intent was to kill Chazz Toney. Toney was then killed the next day, October 10, 2025.
The statement of probable cause from the Duluth Police Department used to charge Branden Russell King, says King told a witness “the wrong guy” was shot on October 9. King allegedly told a witness said he was “supposed to find Cash”. Cash was Toney’s nickname according to court documents.
Court documents say King was asking people if anyone knew where Toney was the night of the murder.
Witnesses said they heard gunshots and then saw King standing behind Toney. Toney was discovered on the ground near the 200 block of West 3rd Street in Duluth.
Police also say surveillance video showed King in the area at the time of the shooting.
The indictment says forensic analysis tied the same gun to both the October 9 and October 10 shootings.
The victim of the first shooting was shot in the chest, but survived.
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King is facing two charges. One is second degree assault with a dangerous weapon for shooting the first person. He is also facing murder charges for the death of Toney.
The indictment does not mention a motive for the murder.
The County Attorney’s Office asked a judge for $1,000,000 bail for King. They alleged in court documents, “Witness saw Mr. King actively looking for [Chazz Toney] in the days leading up to [Toney’s] murder. Mr. King even shot ‘the wrong guy.” The County Attorney continued, “[Toney] was executed; shot in the head with a cigarette still in his mouth and keys and phone still in his hands.”
