Mother, son charged in Apple Valley shooting
Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Article Index
Mother, son charged in Apple Valley shooting
by Laura Adelmann
Thisweek Newspapers

A 58-year-old Farmington mother and her 18-year-old son face felony charges for a shooting incident at the Apple Valley McDonald’s restaurant.

Kathleen Alma Kaikkonen-O’Brien accompanied her son Benjamin “Pete” James O‘Brien to the restaurant where he had allegedly arranged to meet others for a fight over a dispute, according to County Attorney James Backstrom.

Driving them to the scene was Krissy Lynn Revolinski, 20, of Rosemount, and also with the group was a 15-year-old juvenile female. According to the county’s complaint, during the drive, the group discussed the gun Benjamin O’Brien had allegedly put in the trunk.

When they arrived at the restaurant, he allegedly retrieved the weapon after Revolinski popped the trunk lid, took the gun, and assumed a sniper position on top of a metal container at a nearby store.

When the other group arrived, there was a verbal confrontation, and Kaikkonen-O’Brien allegedly said she told the group to leave “so no one would get hurt.”

The complaint also said that at least one member of the other group heard Kaikkonen-O’Brien say, “My son’s got to do what he’s got to do.”

Shots were soon fired, and Kaikkonen-O’Brien allegedly told police she assumed it was O’Brien who was firing the shots.

The groups scattered from the scene, and there were no injuries reported, but police found bullet holes in the outside and inside walls of the restaurant.

Police also found spent shell casings and a live round near a metal container where the shooter was seen behind Checker Auto Store.

Kaikkonen-O’Brien was charged Nov. 24 with felony second-degree riot, and third-degree riot and child endangerment, both gross misdemeanors.

She faces up to five years in prison and a $3,000 to $10,000 fine for the felony, and up to 90 days in jail and fines of between $300 and $3,000 for the other charges.

In November, Benjamin O’Brien pleaded guilty to felony second-degree assault.

He is currently being held in the Dakota County Jail, and the court has ordered a psychological, chemical dependency and mental health evaluation.

County Attorney spokesperson Monica Jensen said if he doesn’t change his plea, the felony dangerous weapons charges will likely be dropped.

His next scheduled court appearance is Jan. 27.

Backstrom said the juvenile female has been charged with two felonies: terroristic threats and second-degree assault.

According to the complaint against Kaikkonen-O’Brien, the girl was armed with a box cutter and hit someone or tried to hit someone during the confrontation.

Revolinsky was charged last month with felony second-degree aiding and abetting and second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.

Backstrom said more charges are expected, but some will come from other agencies, because the county can’t prosecute both sides involved in a case and city attorneys do not handle juvenile cases.

Two other juveniles from the other group that had allegedly gathered to meet O’Brien and the others will be charged through the Washington County Attorney’s Office, and are possibly facing criminal charges, according to Backstrom.

He also said five other adults will be charged through the city of Apple Valley.

Backstrom added it will likely take several weeks or months for the charges to be filed because of the agencies involved and the number of people involved.

Kaikkonen-O’Brien will likely appear before a judge to enter a plea within four to six weeks, according to Backstrom.

“It’s very sad and disturbing to see groups of individuals take out their differences in armed confrontations like this,” Backstrom said.

So, I was thinking about this on my drive home last night, specifiaclly what my reaction to it would be.

We have heard many times that it is fully legal to carry a long gun in MN, there are no laws prohibiting it. We however have been warned not to try such a stunt lest we want to get up-close and personal with the pavement at the behest of our local Officer Friendly.

If you happened to see some dude walking across a parking lot with a rifle, what would you do? (Hypothetically speaking, he does not look drunk/high/upset, nor do you see any quarreling cohorts near by.)

Sniper position . . . . is that like a ninja pose? Or was he doing overwatch? No mention of the type of gun. . . that is really, really, significantly interesting. They don't say sniper rifle, they don't say "assault weapon" or any of the language we usually see in the media. Whatever it was, it made it through the wall of a business.

Things that make ya go "hhmmmmmm".

I'd rather not have morons like that around me...

I go to that particular McDonald's all the time because my friend works there and I get 50% off food