Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Woman Tried to Shoot MN Trooper in the Head, Court Documents Say

A driver who was wounded in an officer-involved shooting Monday on Interstate 94 tried to shoot a Minnesota State Patrol trooper in the head before being shot herself in the arm, according to court documents.

March 9, 2018
2 min to read


A driver who was wounded in an officer-involved shooting Monday on Interstate 94 tried to shoot a Minnesota State Patrol trooper in the head before being shot herself in the arm, according to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Clay County District Court documents filed in the case of a male passenger.

Trooper Mark Peterson stopped Monday morning to help the woman, identified as Melody Victoria Gray, 30, and her male passenger, Domonique Maurice Crayton, 29, both of Milwaukee, who were in a car that had slid into the median a few miles east of Moorhead, the BCA said.

Ad Loading...

While Peterson worked to verify the apparently false information given by the car’s occupants, he learned the car had been reported stolen in Germantown, Wis., so he positioned his squad car to prevent the disabled car from driving away. Peterson then asked Crayton to get out of the car, the BCA said.

As Peterson tried to handcuff Crayton, Gray got out of the driver’s seat and, with her right arm extended, pointed a 9mm handgun at the trooper’s head and appeared to pull the trigger, court documents said. The gun, however, did not fire, reports the Pioneer Press.

Meanwhile, the woman tried to manipulate the handgun to chamber a round and raised the gun again toward the trooper. The trooper then fired his weapon and hit her in the right arm, court documents said.

The woman then dropped the gun and ran across I-94 and north into a field, court documents and the BCA said. She reportedly dropped a gun that Peterson then recovered.

Gray was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound, the bureau said.

Ad Loading...

Peterson was not injured, the BCA said.

Both Gray and Crayton had warrants out for their arrest on multiple charges.

Crayton appeared in court Wednesday and kept insisting his name was Donald Moor El. “I’m of a sovereign nation,” Crayton declared, saying he was of a Moorish Nation of Islam. “How can I conduct business with you?”

More Patrol

Security officer wearing an earpiece uses a handheld two-way radio at an outdoor event, with PositionPTT push-to-talk radio accessories and earpiece shown alongside for professional communications.
PatrolJuly 28, 2026

PositionPTT & Pryme Combine Communication Technologies to Deliver Distracted Driving Compliance

Pryme Radio Accessories and hardware/software maker PositionPTT join forces to advance hands-free communications and ensure Department of Transportation compliance using an integrated system of push-to-talk platforms, devices, and audio equipment.

Read More →
Graphic announcing $25 million in law enforcement grants and resources over a photo of the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C., with large blue-and-white headline text overlaying the building.
PatrolJuly 23, 2026

Justice Department Releases $25M in Law Enforcement Grants & Resources

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has just released $25 million in new grant Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to support law enforcement. The recently released NOFOs include the Safer Outcomes: Enhancing Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement Program and other grant programs.

Read More →
POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips YouTube thumbnail asking, “What qualifies a device as rugged or fully rugged?” featuring a Panasonic Toughbook laptop on a dark street background.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 23, 2026

What Makes a Laptop Rugged or Fully Rugged?

What separates a rugged laptop from a fully rugged one? In this video, two Panasonic Connect experts explain the military testing, IP ratings, durability standards, and real-world features that help law enforcement officers rely on their computers in any environment.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Leadership update graphic featuring Team Wendy President Vasilios Brachos standing in front of a display of protective helmets, with POLICE Law Enforcement Solutions branding and text announcing his appointment as company president.
PatrolJuly 22, 2026

Avon Technologies Appoints Vasilios Brachos as Team Wendy President

Longtime ballistic helmet leader Vasilios Brachos has been selected to guide the next chapter of protection, innovation, and growth at Team Wendy.

Read More →
BRINC fundraising announcement graphic featuring a response drone in flight, highlighting a $125 million funding round to expand 911 response drones for police and fire stations, led by Motorola Solutions Ventures with additional investors.
PatrolJuly 16, 2026

Brinc Raises $125M to Put a 911 Response Drone on Every Police and Fire Station Roof

The latest round of funding, $125 million, can help fuel Brinc’s mission to deploy 911-response drones at the 80,000 police and fire stations across the United States.

Read More →
POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips video series graphic featuring a Garmont Tactical Contact Collection duty boot against a police vehicle with flashing lights. Includes “Watch Now” callout for the video series.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 9, 2026

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement

Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →