Charges: Chanhassen man fired hundreds of rounds, killing his sister
Carver County Sheriff's Office
A Chanhassen man is accused of firing hundreds of rounds in the fatal shooting of his sister over the weekend.
Joseph Thomas Ness, 21, of Chanhassen, is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the May 8 death of his 25-year-old sister, Noelle Ness.
According to the criminal complaint, Carver County deputies responded to 3732 Landings Drive, on the shores of Lake Minnewashta in Chanhassen, at around 2:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, for a fire alarm, and while en route learned there was a shooting at the home.
Charges say a neighbor had called police after the mom ran to their home saying, "Joey shot and killed Noelle." A deputy met with the mom at the neighbor's house, noting she was distraught and said there were multiple weapons in the home, adding that she didn't know if Joseph Ness was still in the house.
At about 3:05 p.m., a neighbor who lives about a half-mile north of the Ness residence called 911 saying a man, later identified as Joseph Ness, walked onto her property from the public trail and said, "Please help me. I need your help. I need you to call the police for me. I just killed my sister. I want to surrender peacefully. I am unarmed," the complaint says.
Joesph Ness was taken into custody at about 3:15 p.m.
When deputies went into the Ness' home, they found "hundreds of spent rifle casings, bullet holes in walls, and many windows shattered by gunfire," charges state.
The complaint says Joseph Ness shot from his bedroom into Noelle's bedroom, adding "it appears Noelle may have been shot at a closer range as rounds traveled vertically through her bed." Twelve spent rifle casings were recovered from near her bed.
Noelle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies searched the Ness home and found six rifles, including AR-15 and AK-47 variants, ammunition, and high-capacity drum magazines, the complaint says.
Charges note the information in the complaint is "preliminary" and the Carver County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension continue to investigate.
No motive for the killing was outlined in the complaint.
