Man Charged After Alleged Robbery, Knife Assault of Mechanic in Minneapolis
Published: April 11th 2026
MINNEAPOLIS MN: A man has been charged in Hennepin County District Court following an alleged robbery and knife assault involving a mechanic in south Minneapolis.
According to a criminal complaint, Lazaro Antonio Trujillo Hernandez is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The aggravated robbery charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $35,000 fine, while the assault charge carries up to 7 years and/or a fine between $4,200 and $14,000.
The charges stem from an April 8, 2026 incident at approximately 12:15 p.m. near the 3700 block of Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis.
According to the complaint, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department responded to reports of a robbery and assault and spoke with the victim, identified as O.S., a mechanic at a nearby auto shop.
The victim reported that he had performed repair work on a vehicle belonging to the defendant. After a dispute over the cost and quality of the repairs, the defendant allegedly demanded a refund. When the victim refused, the complaint states the defendant later allegedly returned to the shop and waited for the victim to exit.
According to the complaint, the defendant then struck the victim multiple times with his fists and slammed him against a white Chrysler Town and Country van. The defendant allegedly placed a knife against the victim’s throat with enough force to cause a laceration and demanded money.
Under duress, the victim called his spouse to transfer approximately $900 to the defendant through an electronic payment application, according to the complaint. The defendant then allegedly took the victim’s phone and wallet.
Later that day, a witness identified as J.R. contacted authorities and reported that the defendant had come to his residence covered in blood and stated that he had assaulted a mechanic with a knife, according to the complaint. The witness told officers he persuaded the defendant to turn himself in.
The complaint states the defendant then called police and was taken into custody without incident at a nearby public location. Officers also learned the defendant had changed out of bloodied clothing at the witness’s residence.
In a post-Miranda interview, the defendant allegedly admitted to returning to the auto shop, confronting the victim, and assaulting him. He also admitted to using a knife to demand money, stating he used it to intimidate the victim. The defendant reportedly told investigators he may have “scratched” the victim but did not intend to cause further injury. He also admitted to chasing the victim with the knife after the victim broke free.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video that, according to the complaint, corroborated the victim’s account. The video allegedly shows the defendant removing a knife from the van, striking the victim multiple times, going through the victim’s pockets, and pressing the knife against the victim’s neck with visible force. The footage also shows the defendant preventing the victim from leaving the van and continuing the assault over a period of approximately 10 minutes.
The case has been filed in Hennepin County District Court.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.