Rashaad L. Van Pelt, 32, was shot and killed in Saint Paul on the night of November 20, 2021, after a dispute earlier that evening. The conflict began when Van Pelt mentioned to Dontaye Javonne Thomas that he had heard Thomas had been beaten up; Thomas left upset and sent a text to Jai’Patric Ni’Carlo Timberlake urging him to come and bring a gun, claiming Van Pelt had threatened to shoot up the block. Around 11:30 p.m. Thomas returned to the 1000 block of York Avenue in Payne-Phalen with Timberlake, Deveon Quintarius Kirk and a fourth man. A witness heard arguing and loud music for about ten minutes before shots were fired. Witnesses saw six to nine muzzle flashes; Van Pelt was found in a nearby alley shot multiple times and died at the scene. An autopsy later showed nine gunshot wounds.

Investigators describe the shooting as not random. The fourth man cooperated and identified Kirk as the only shooter; police say fingerprints matching Kirk were found on a car at the scene and surveillance footage supports his identification. Three men — Thomas, Timberlake and Kirk — were arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Does anyone have information about Van Pelt, his movements that night, or about the people involved?