After a two-week jury trial, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has secured the conviction of Michael Jordan Carpenter on all charges, including 1st degree premeditated murder and 2nd degree intentional murder, following the October 2022 killing of Nicole Hammond.
On October 24, 2022, Michael Carpenter shot and killed his co-worker, Nicole Hammond, in the parking lot of Dubow Textile. The two had exchanged text messages the night before, in which Hammond requested not to be touched by Carpenter. The following morning, Carpenter armed himself with his 9mm pistol and approached Hammond as she exited her vehicle before her work shift. Carpenter fired a single gunshot through Hammond’s neck and fled the area. Hammond died on the scene.
Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted Carpenter upon a referral from the Benton County Attorney under Minnesota Statutes Sec. 8.01, which states: “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.” Assistant Attorney General Erin Eldridge led the State’s successful prosecution, assisted by Assistant Attorney General Mary Russell, paralegal Terri Yang, and Victim Witness Coordinator Nora Radtke.
“Nothing can bring Nicole Hammond back to her family and community. Nonetheless, I am pleased this brings some justice for her and I hope it brings some healing to her loved ones. My thanks go to the team that won this conviction, the agencies that assisted in investigating this crime, and to Benton County Attorney Kathleen Reuter and former Benton County Attorney Karl Schmidt for entrusting my office with this case,” Attorney General Ellison said. “I accepted this case because under the law, it is my job to assist our county attorneys when they ask for help. Minnesotans in every corner of our state deserve equal justice and my office is here to help provide it. When a prosecutor asks for my help, I will seek justice for victims and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
Attorney General Ellison thanked the St. Cloud Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in investigating and successfully prosecuting this crime.
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