A St. Paul man fatally shot a 41-year-old man over $20 during a robbery in the city’s North End last September, a Ramsey County judge ruled Friday.

Benjamin Lee Harris was found guilty by Ramsey County District Judge Shawn Bartsh of a count of intentional second-degree murder, a count of unintentional second-degree murder as well as a count of first-degree attempted aggravated robbery. Harris defended himself and waived his right to a jury trial.

During a Sept. 1 robbery, Harris shot and killed Jason Mikulak, a father who worked as a driver for Holiday Station stores.

Mikulak and his girlfriend were approached by a masked man with a gun as they sat in his car parked on Galtier Street near Orange Avenue.

The gunman demanded that Mikulak open the car door and hand over money. Mikulak refused, but the gunman opened the door. The woman in the car put two $10 bills on top of the car, hoping to satisfy the gunman. But he said he wanted her to get out of the car and hand it to him.

As she started to comply, Mikulak jumped out of the car and tried to wrestle the gun away.

That’s when shots were fired and Mikulak fell to the ground. The shooter fled. Mikulak was hit in the chest, abdomen and arm. The bullet that pierced his heart killed him.

During the trial, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Rachel Lynn Kraker ran through the evidence pointing to Harris’ guilt.

DNA evidence collected from fingerprints on the vehicle’s handle matched those of Harris.

“There is only one reason why his fingerprints … would be on that door handle,” Kraker said. “Because (Harris) shot and killed Jason Mikulak.”

Kraker also pointed out the physical description of the masked assailant was consistent with Harris’ appearance. And Harris’ cellphone records indicate he was in the area when and where the crime took place.

Cellphone data showed Harris was looking for a handgun before the robbery — and tried to get rid of one afterward, Kraker said.

“Perhaps the greatest question in this case is why. … Why would this defendant kill Jason Mikulak over $20?” Kraker said. She said Harris’ actions showed a “complete disregard for human life.”

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2 shot in Minneapolis had worked for candidate During his defense, Harris opted against taking the stand or presenting witnesses or evidence to counter the state’s claims.

He said that although he felt empathy for Mikulak, prosecutors had failed to tie him to fatal shooting.

Harris has a lengthy criminal record. Almost 10 years ago, he robbed two people in a Columbia Heights home, holding a gun to their heads. He went to prison in that case and then again for a 2010 armed robbery in St. Paul.

At the time of the shooting, Harris was out of prison on supervised release for the 2010 robbery.

But the Minnesota Department of Corrections issued a warrant for an alleged violation of his release in July. Law enforcement officials were trying to locate him at the time of the Sept. 1 shooting.

Harris is scheduled to be sentenced June 19.