A Brooklyn Park man has been charged with stealing merchandise from an Eden Prairie store and illegally possessing a firearm, according to Hennepin County court records.
Lance Corey McKinnie, 55, was charged Friday, Aug. 8, with felony possession of ammunition or a firearm after a conviction for a crime of violence, and gross misdemeanor theft. McKinnie, who had been in custody since Aug. 6, was released from the Hennepin County jail on Aug. 9.
The criminal complaint says that at about 6:10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, officers went to a store in the 8300 block of Flying Cloud Drive after a report of two people concealing items. Officers observed McKinnie and a woman pass the point of sale without paying for $679 in merchandise.
Police say a search of McKinnie turned up a portable charger in his waistband and sunglasses in his pocket. Officers located the car the pair had driven and reported seeing a nugget of marijuana in plain view and smelling fresh marijuana.
A search of the vehicle uncovered suspected methamphetamine, a firearm with a defaced serial number, and several driver’s licenses and Social Security cards that did not belong to McKinnie or the woman, according to the complaint.
McKinnie, who was convicted in April 2025 of fifth-degree drug possession, is prohibited from possessing firearms. He told police the gun belonged to a friend and that he had handled it to take photos, the complaint states.
Court records show his next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6.
Comments
We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.