Bail set in murder case

Talk about it

Bail was set at $1 million Tuesday for two 19-year-olds charged with murder in connection with a shooting Sunday in Red Wing.

Marvin Todd Griffith and William Jamar Lawton, both of Red Wing, have been formally charged with second-degree murder and several other felony counts.

Goodhue County Attorney Stephen Betcher said Griffith allegedly shot and killed 27-year-old Joel Rafael Diaz Albelo while trying to rob him during a drug deal.

Lawton, Betcher said, was an accomplice.

Another alleged accomplice, 16-year-old Julian Stephan Smith of Zumbrota, also appeared in court Tuesday. A judge ordered he remain in custody at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing.

Smith has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, first-degree assault and second-degree assault. His next court appearance will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 30 in Goodhue County District Court.

Griffith and Lawton will have court appearances Feb. 15.

Betcher said his office is still trying to determine whether there is enough evidence to bring the suspects before a grand jury on first-degree murder charges.

Tags: news, murder, red, wing, joel, rafael, diaz, albelo