Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced that Jamal Ahmed Adan, age 29 of Burnsville, and Sadiq Aden Isack, age 27 of Bloomington, have both been charged* by complaint with one count each of Murder in the Third Degree and Controlled Substance Crime in the Third Degree, in connection with providing a fatal dose of fentanyl that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Hunter Verner Carlson of Eagan, on January 27, 2021. Adan was arrested late Monday and made his first appearance today in Dakota County District Court on the complaint. Isack is still at large.
On the morning of January 28, 2021, Eagan police officers were called to the home of Hunter Carlson when his mother found him lying face down in his bed and unresponsive. Officers and medics tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Carlson, but he was pronounced deceased. Officers learned that Carlson had been experimenting with Percocet. Officers were told about an argument that occurred the prior evening with 16-year-old neighbor Aiden John Pelto. Pelto told police that he and Carlson wanted to do some Percocet. Pelto arranged for the purchase of two Percocet pills with Adan and Isack, whom he had been purchasing Percocet from for a month or two. Pelto brought the two pills to Carlson's home and Carlson split one of the pills and each of them snorted half. Approximately 15 minutes later, Carlson snorted part of the second pill. The autopsy concluded that Carlson died as a result of positional asphyxia complicating acute fentanyl toxicity.
Additional facts pertaining to this case can be found in the criminal complaint at Criminal Complaint Search. If in custody, a mug shot can be viewed at Inmate Search.
Bail was set in the amount of $300,000 without conditions ($250,000 with conditions) by Dakota County District Court Judge Timothy McManus. Adan's next court appearance is scheduled for May 18, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings.
A motion was filed to certify Pelto as an adult but was denied by the court. The matter resolved as an Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ). On January 6, 2022, Pelto pled guilty to Third Degree Murder and was adjudicated by Judge Christopher Lehmann and placed on juvenile probation until age 21. As part of the EJJ sentence, he was also given an adult sentence of 86 months in prison, which is stayed as long as Pelto complies with his juvenile sentence.
Keena commented: “Fentanyl poisoning continues to be a serious and significant problem in the Twin Cities. My deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Hunter Carlson for their great loss."
Keena thanked the Eagan Police Department for their thorough investigation. If you have questions, contact Kathy Keena at 651-438-4440.
*Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant/suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.