St. Paul Man Gets Life Without Parole in Law Clerk’s Killing

ST. PAUL -- A St. Paul man was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life without parole in the killing of a law clerk.

Thirty-seven-year-old Ryan Petersen was convicted Friday after a three-day bench trial.

Prosecutors say he shot Chase Passauer eight times in April. The 23-year-old was working as a law clerk at North Star Criminal Defense in St. Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood, and had hoped to become a defense attorney.

Petersen went to the office because he was upset with his attorney in another case.

Petersen didn't speak before he was sentenced.

Ramsey County District Judge William Leary said the crime's brutality was self-evident, but no one is beyond redemption. He said he hoped Petersen would do what he could to make up for this "unfortunate event."