A Columbia Heights man received two years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to a gun charge in connection with the fatal shooting in Minneapolis of an off-duty Eagan and Eden Prairie firefighter who was caught in the crossfire crossed between two groups that exchanged over 60 people. rounds of gunfire.

Dallas Antonio Villarreal-Griffin, 27, pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court to a lesser charge of carrying a handgun without a license, a serious misdemeanor, for his role in May 5 shooting of Joseph Charles Johns, 40, behind the former Whiskey Junction Bar in the 900 block of Cedar Avenue South.

Based on a witness’ account, Johns was directing traffic when the shot rang out, catching him in the crossfire, the charges say. He was shot once by a bullet fired from a 9mm handgun, striking him in the chest.

Johns has been a full-time firefighter in Eagan since 2020. He has also been a part-time duty firefighter in Eden Prairie, where he lived, since 2015.

He was remembered by his colleagues as a kind, caring, positive and charismatic man who had a “service before self” mentality.

Villarreal-Griffin was charged with felony aiding and abetting first-degree riot resulting in death, but prosecutors added the gun charge as part of Thursday’s plea agreement. He was then sentenced to 364 days in jail, which was suspended for two years.

Villarreal-Griffin, who was shot in the leg during the fight and hospitalized, admitted to police that he fired a 9 mm handgun into a group, the May 17 criminal complaint said.

A county prosecutor said last month at the sentencing of the second shooter, Marquise Trevone Hammonds-Ford, that police had not found the person who fired the 9mm shot that killed Johns.

People had gathered that night near the former Whiskey Junction bar to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of a motorcycle club.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., Hammonds-Ford, a member of the Young N’ Thuggin street gang in North Minneapolis, pulled out a 10mm handgun modified into an automatic weapon, brandished it and taunted another group of guns…gathering men across the street. He then fired the gun into the air towards the parking lot.

Officers who arrived at the scene were directed to Johns, who was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center less than an hour later.

Officers collected 63 unloaded casings, which were found in clusters on both sides of the street outside the bar.

Forensic tests showed that shots were fired with seven guns: six 9mm firearms and one 10mm firearm.

Evidence, including video surveillance, showed Johns was shot as two groups exchanged gunfire from opposite sides of the street.

When the shooting stopped, Hammonds-Ford and others sped off and dropped Villarreal-Griffin off at HCMC.

Hammonds-Ford, 29, of Monticello, was also charged with aiding and abetting first-degree riot resulting in death, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of weapons possession last month after who reached an agreement with the prosecution. He was sentenced on October 9 to 6 1/2 years in prison, which was part of the terms of the agreement.