Jenup Stepen Chop sentenced to over 37 years for drive-by shooting homicide
Chop convicted of 2nd Degree Murder – Drive-by Shooting, and two counts of Attempted Murder in the 1st Degree – Drive-by Shooting; received a total of 450 months in prison for committing a shooting involving multiple victims
February 28, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, a Mower County court sentenced Jenup Stepen Chop to a total of 37.5 years in prison for a drive-by shooting in June 2023 that left one person dead and two people injured. Chop received 297 months in prison for the murder of Gumdel Gilo, a consecutive 153-month prison sentence for the attempted murder of Shelissa Bentzin, and a concurrent 210-month sentence for the attempted murder of Isaiah Johnson. In December 2024, Chop entered pleas of guilty to 2nd Degree Murder and two counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder.
On June 9, 2023, Chop fired over 20 rounds from a handgun at a vehicle driven by Gilo, killing Gilo and injuring Johnson and Bentzin, who were passengers in the vehicle. Chop also fired numerous rounds at a witness on a motorcycle, who pursued the vehicle containing Chop and his codefendants. One codefendant is pending trial.
Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted the case at the request of Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen under Minnesota Statutes Sec. 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.”
“My heart goes out to Jenup Chop’s victims and their loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “I care deeply about the safety of the people of Minnesota, and I will continue to partner with law enforcement and county attorneys across our state to prosecute criminals who pose a danger to their fellow Minnesotans.”
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Austin Police Department and the Mower County Sheriff’s Office investigated this crime, with assistance from the Albert Lea Police Department.
