City of Inver Grove Heights Police Department

8150 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 (651) 450-2525

Fax (651) 450-2543

For Immediate Release March 27, 2018

Juvenile Male Arrested in “Party Bus” Shooting

Late in the day, Monday, March 26, 2018, investigators arrested a 16-year-old Hopkins youth in
connection with the March 24th shooting death of Billy Ray Robles. The probable cause arrest
of this 16-year-old took place at the Inver Grove Heights Police Department without incident.
Investigators continue to seek at least one other person, who has been identified as a person of
interest. In addition, investigators are working to identify and talk with all those present at the
time of the shooting. The case has been submitted to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for
review and consideration of possible charges.

“This investigation remains in the early stages” said Inver Grove Heights Police Chief Paul
Schnell. “These investigations are complex given the range of evidence that will require
forensic testing and the witness’s investigators still need to locate and interview,” he added.

Investigators have determined that the fight and shooting followed a dispute or argument
between two groups of teens and young men on the party bus. The specific motive for the fight
and subsequent shooting has not been determined, but rival gang affiliation has been identified
as a possibility by some witnesses.

Investigators ask that anyone with information about this case, call the Inver Grove Heights
Police Department at 651-450-2525.

At 1:32 AM, on Saturday, Inver Grove Heights police officers were called to the parking lot of
the AMC theatre at 5567 Bishop Avenue, in Inver Grove Heights on the report of a fight and
shots fired. When officers arrived, they encountered a chaotic scene of 40 to 50 people in the
theatre parking lot where a party bus was dropping off partygoers.

Officers found Billy Robles, who was unresponsive with a gunshot wound. Officers also located
a juvenile male who suffered facial injuries after being physically assaulted. Both Robles and the
juvenile were transported to Regions Hospital, where Robles was pronounced dead. The
juvenile who had been assaulted was treated at the hospital and released. A second juvenile
male with a nonlife-threatening gunshot wound was located in a vehicle stopped by police on
Highway 52 shortly after the shooting. The juvenile gunshot victim was transported by
ambulance to Regions Hospital for treatment of injuries to his foot and has since been
released.
Released by authority of:
Paul Schnell, Chief of Police
Inver Grove Heights Police Department
Phone: 651-450-2526
Email: pschnell@invergroveheights.org