SIBLEY COUNTY — Authorities are searching for a man accused of shooting a 24-year-old Winthrop woman Nov. 2, 2020 and his alleged female getaway driver.

A first-degree attempted murder charge was filed in Sibley County District Court May 12 against Keshaun S. Coatie, 24, of South St. Paul. A felony charge of aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder was filed against Brianna N. Watson of Richfield.

Jessica S. Holtz of Winthrop survived being shot multiple times after answering a knock at the door at 309 West 3rd St. Winthrop at 12:18 a.m. Nov. 2, according to the complaint. Holtz was transported to New Ulm Medical Center before being airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center.

Holtz told investigators she was shot by a Black man in a grey, hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, wearing a light-colored medical facemask. She said the man asked for directions, pointed a gun at her and shot her.

Holtz and David D. Harris, 19, were earlier charged with felony theft in Sibley County, according to court documents. Holtz recently entered into a plea bargain to testify against Harris at trial.

Holtz said Harris told her earlier, “you’re either with me or against me, and if you’re against me, I have a gun.”

Coatie is a known associate and friend of David Harris, according to court documents.

Law enforcement obtained area surveillance videos and noticed a vehicle circling Holtz’ residence at the time of the shooting that was registered to Holly B. Watson, the sister of Brianna Watson, allegedly in a relationship with Coatie.

Brianna Watson admitted to authorities that she was the primary driver of the vehicle in the surveillance footage and admitted to driving Coatie from the Twin Cities to Winthrop on late in the evening of Nov. 1 or early in the morning of Nov. 2.

In addition, she admitted to stopping on a dark street in Winthrop and that Coatie told her to stay in the car. Watson said Coatie was gone for about four minutes before she heard gun shots, he returned, and they drove away.

Location data retrieved from Brianna Watson’s phone corroborated her statement and showed she was in contact with a phone known to be used by McKenzie Ariana Cass about the time of the shooting. Cass is in a relationship with Harris and the couple admitted to being together at their Wisconsin residence at the time of the shooting.

Brianna Watson said Coatie used her phone at the time of the shooting.

Photos and physical descriptions of the attempted murder and aiding and abetting suspects were not available.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@

nujournal.com).