Teen found dead at Wirth Park victim of gang initiation (Golden Valley, MN)

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- One juvenile has been charged and more arrests are pending in the murder of a teen whose body was found earlier this month at Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley.

Kayakers found James Teto Grant's body in a small creek on July 18. Authorities believe the body has been there for some time.

Prosecutors say the 17-year-old Grant was killed as part of a gang initiation.

A criminal complaint charging the 16-year-old suspect in the death says the teen and two other juveniles took Grant to Wirth park July 10 for a 'jump in with the Bloods', slang for a gang initiation beating. The complaint says the suspect told investigators the three began beating the victim with their hands and eventually, one juvenile retrieved a shovel and began striking Grant in the head until he was dead.

The complaint says the teens then called a 24 year old man who took them to Home Depot to buy shovels to bury the victim in the park. Eventually, they changed their minds, stole a car battery and cable, attached it to Grant's leg, and sunk him in the pond. The kayakers discovered the victim's body 8 days later.

Police say charges are expected later this week against the two other teenagers, ages 14 and 16, and the 24 year adult.