Investigators believe a woman set up a man to be robbed at his St. Paul home and then served as a lookout in the area, according to a murder charge filed Friday.

Andrew Gutzman, 37, was found fatally shot in his South Como home the morning of July 5.

Andrew Gutzman (Courtesy of James Gutzman)

Gutzman’s ex-girlfriend told police she arrived at Gutzman’s home on Hatch Avenue near Chatsworth Street, and found him bloody on the floor. She ran outside and asked someone to call 911 because she didn’t have a cellphone. Officers were sent to the home about 7:30 a.m., and Gutzman was pronounced dead.

Investigators tracked Gutzman’s ex-girlfriend’s movements through surveillance video and eliminated her as a suspect.

They received Gutzman’s cellphone records and saw he received phone calls at 12:26 a.m., 12:54 a.m. and 12:58 a.m. on July 5 from a number associated with a woman, Sabrina Anne Martens, 27, of St. Paul.

Investigators determined that Martens advertised sexual services online and a phone number in the ad was the same one that Gutzman used to communicate with her on July 5, the criminal complaint said. Photos associated with the ad matched Martens.

On Wednesday, officers responded to Martens’ online posting and arrested her when she arrived. She wouldn’t talk to investigators about the text exchange that brought her to Gutzman’s home, “but she later said investigators knew her line of work,” according to the complaint.

Police asked Martens about a gun she’d reported stolen. She said she had a permit to carry, and she’d had people over to her apartment and a gun was stolen between May 30 and 31. She said it was the third gun stolen from her “because she surrounds herself with (expletive) up people,” the complaint continued.

Investigators showed Martens a photo of a purple Ford Fusion taken from surveillance video by Gutzman’s home and she said it was her car, but she said she had let a friend drive it. She wouldn’t give the friend’s name.

A cellphone analysis of Martens’ phone also showed it was in the area of Gutzman’s address between 1:09 a.m. and 1:43 a.m. on July 5.

Martens was booked into the Ramsey County jail, where phone calls are recorded. She talked to her brother, telling him, “I didn’t kill anybody.” When he asked what she was doing, she said, “I was just hitting some licks. I was just trying to get some money,” the complaint said of a recording. “Hitting licks” means committing robberies.

On Marten’s cell phone, investigators found a text conversation with another person between 1:15 a.m. and 1:42 a.m. on July 5. Martens texted, “His whole house is empty. He’s moving.” Soon after, Martens sent a text saying, he had “a lot of meth. I can run with that. But idk (I don’t know) about the weed,” the complaint continued.

At 1:32 a.m., Martens told the person she was texting with, “Start walking to the door he getting in the shower ima snatch and run.” Two minutes later, she said she was going to walk out and wrote, “just come in,” the complaint continued.

The complaint doesn’t indicate who shot Gutzman, and police said Friday their investigation continues.

An autopsy found Gutzman died from a distant gunshot wound to the head and neck.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged Martens with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

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There is a moment early in the Netflix series “Receiver” that perfectly captures the essence of Vikings star Justin Jefferson.

Not long after suffering a hamstring injury during an early-season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs last fall, Jefferson is filmed in the driver’s seat of his Maybach SUV, the sun shining on his face as he navigates the back roads near TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Not only does the clip offer a look into the early stages of the recovery process, it provides some insight into who he is at his core.

“No one in this game could ever tell me to not play or to tank the season or to do any of that other stuff because I’m not that type of person,” Jefferson said. “I want to play. I love the game of football. I want to be the best, so in order for that to happen I’ve got to be out there.”

Not once did Jefferson think about sitting out. Never mind what some talking heads were suggesting he should do with a lucrative contract extension looming. He made it his mission to get back as soon as possible, and eventually, he did, eclipsing 1,000 yards for the 2023 season despite playing in only 10 games.

A large portion of Jefferson’s story arch in the Netflix series is centered on him working his way back from the hamstring injury. You see the tenacity with which he approaches the toughest stretch of his career. He’s determined to get through it for his teammates, as well as for himself.

His journey throughout the recovery process is backdrop. Whenever he’s on the screen, however, Jefferson shows that he’s so much more than that.

There are hilarious moments. Like when he gushes about his alter ego “Jets” in front of a mirror while laying himself in jewelry. Or when he declares his love for candy during a tour of his house that would have been worthy of an MTV Cribs feature once upon a time.

There are endearing moments. Like when he teaches rookie receiver Jordan Addison some tricks of the trade on the sidelines. Or when he serves as the biggest cheerleader for franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins after he ruptures his Achilles tendon.

There are heartwarming moments. Like when he interacts with his parents John and Elaine, who he so clearly adores. Or when he talks about his older brothers Jordan and Rickey and how proud he is that they can live vicariously through him.

He’s just a good dude.

All of it leads up to Jefferson returning to the field in a Dec. 10 road game against the Las Vegas Raiders. His comeback is shortlived as he’s crushed while hauling in a pass over the middle. He’s seen coughing and spitting blood on the sidelines, and is rushed to the hospital via ambulance.

Many thought that would be enough for Jefferson to shut it down. Nope. Not a chance.

“I want to be out there competing and fighting every single play,” he said. “I’m going to push through it regardless and just try to suck it up.”

After finally catching his stride, Jefferson finished the final month with a combined 30 receptions for 476 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He capped that stretch with an exclamation point — 12 catches for 192 yards receiving and a touchdown in the season finale. He did everything in his power to will the Vikings into the playoffs and came up just short.

“The times that I was out there on that field making plays, I was pretty good,” Jefferson said. “The (team’s) record doesn’t say so, and that’s the frustrating part about it. Individually I did good and still the outcome is bad. It’s like, ‘What more can I do?’ ”

The fact that Jefferson is asking himself that question says everything that needs to be said about him. He’s the ultimate competitor, and the Vikings are lucky to have him.

The penultimate scene of the Netflix series “Receiver” is perfect. It shows Jefferson signing his historic 4-year, $140 million contract extension. He cheeses as he puts pen to paper on a deal that will effectively achieve generational wealth for him and his family.

It’s a fitting way to end it because Jefferson is worth every penny. The peek behind the curtain only reaffirmed that.

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A little more than a month before the Democratic National Convention arrives in Chicago, one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s top deputies on Thursday assured a roomful of business and civic leaders the city is ready for its moment in the international spotlight and that the impact of the historic event will be felt long after the expected 50,000 visitors leave town.

Concerns about potential unrest in the streets, including planned protests over the Biden administration’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza, have shifted and in some ways been overshadowed in the past two weeks as Democrats find themselves divided over whether President Joe Biden should remain the party’s nominee. The concerns were significantly heightened after Biden, 81, gave a listless debate performance late last month that caused many Democrats to worry he could not defeat former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, in November or serve as president for four more years.

While Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker have reaffirmed their support for Biden in recent days after each took part in private meetings with the president and other leaders, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park on Thursday joined U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley of Chicago on the growing list of Democrats calling for a new nominee to lead the ticket.

Whatever divisions might be on display on the streets of the city or inside the convention hall at the United Center, Chicago is prepared for its role as host, John Roberson, the city’s chief operating officer, said during an event in River North hosted by the City Club of Chicago.

“Given the national dynamic in terms of the public discourse that is going on today, why not Chicago?” Roberson said. “Why wouldn’t this be the place where we can host the most democratic activity of selecting someone to run for the highest office in the land and still be the same city that provides the room and space for the full-throated expression of First Amendment rights?

“And to do it in this moment while the world is watching, we have the opportunity as the city to show people how to do it the right way.”

Roberson’s comments came days after a violent Fourth of July weekend during which 100 people were shot, 21 of them fatally, while the city hosted a NASCAR street race downtown.

Nevertheless, he said the Chicago Police Department is prepared to keep the entire city safe when the DNC is in town from Aug. 19-22.

“What we are going to do is to make sure that every single visitor, delegate or not, will be safe. We’re going to make sure that those who are going to engage in the full expression of their First and Fourth amendment rights are going to be safe,” Roberson said, referring to the rights of free speech and assembly but also protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. “And we’re going to do that against the backdrop of providing public safety for 2.7 million people in the city of Chicago.”

CPD has been preparing for months for the convention and coordinating closely with the Secret Service, which is in charge of security in and around the United Center and McCormick Place, where party business will take place during the days of the convention.

Roberson reiterated that Chicago police — drawing on lessons from the 1996 DNC, the 2012 NATO summit and even pro-Palestinian protests this spring — are ready and that the Johnson administration welcomes protests, even as it continues to try to negotiate an agreement with demonstrators about where their rallies and marches can take place.

“For a mayor that comes out of labor, that comes out of the movement, he embraces that. He encourages it. … We want that to happen,” Roberson said. “But we’re not going to tolerate vandalism; we’re not going to tolerate destruction of property.”

Joining Roberson on stage at the lunchtime event were Alex Hornbrook, executive director of the Democratic National Convention Committee, and Christy George, executive director of the nonprofit Chicago host committee, both of whom sidestepped an audience question about the process for choosing a new nominee should Biden withdraw.

Instead, Hornbrook spoke about how convention organizers for the first time are offering access to social media content creators in much the same way they do for the traditional news media.

None of the panelists took questions from reporters after the discussion. It’s common practice following City Club events for speakers to answer media inquiries.

On stage, Hornbrook, who led the host city selection process for the DNC, said whether it comes to conveniently located hotel rooms, transportation infrastructure or public safety planning, “we’re fully confident that the city is prepared for this moment.”

“It’s not an accident that we’re here … in Chicago,” he said.

George encouraged the City Club audience to help draw convention-goers into Chicago’s neighborhoods by hosting events throughout the week.

“We would love to see events happening all over the city of Chicago,” she said.

Aside from security preparations, city workers have been busy with beautification and infrastructure improvement projects ahead of the convention, from planting 500 new trees to building a new $80 million CTA station on the Green Line at Damen Avenue.

While acknowledging some people might question the expenditures, Roberson said the Johnson administration is aiming for improvements that will benefit residents beyond the four days of the convention.

Those trees, for example, are being planted in areas where they’re currently lacking, which eventually should help lower residents’ energy bills in the summer by providing more shade, he said.

Likewise, the administration is targeting the area around the new Damen Green Line stop for the development of more affordable housing, Roberson said.

“When we talk about the investments that we’re making for the DNC, yes, we’re going to beautify; yes, we’re going to make sure that our delegates have a good time,” he said. “But we also have to make sure that the long-lasting impact is going to help to change the trajectory and create the vibrancy for the future of our city.”

Biden’s future, meanwhile, remains hotly debated among Democratic officials, donors and activists.

In his statement, Schneider, the five-term North Shore congressman, professed his “love” for the president but encouraged him to follow the lead of George Washington and “pass the torch.”

“In passing the torch now, President Biden has a chance to live up to this standard and seal his place in history as one of the greatest leaders our nation, and history, has ever known,” said Schneider, who noted he was the first member of Illinois’ congressional delegation to back Biden in the 2020 race.

“He can lead the transition of power to a new generation that can build a stronger party and a stronger nation,” Schneider said. “I fear if he fails to make the right choice, our democracy will hang in the balance.”