On Tuesday afternoon, August 17, 2021, 16-year-old Varney Kennedy Jr., a Black male from Golden Valley, was sitting in a parked car outside an African market in Brooklyn Park when an individual walked up and shot him multiple times. The shooting happened around 3:45 p.m. in the 5700 block of Brookdale Drive. Kennedy was found with numerous gunshot wounds, taken to North Memorial Medical Center after lifesaving measures, underwent surgery and died less than an hour later. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police identified 18-year-old Marcus Aaron Thornton as a suspect. A witness who accompanied Thornton said Thornton stayed in the parking lot while the witness went into the market; the witness reported hearing shots from inside the store. City surveillance footage reportedly shows a man standing outside a car, pulling a gun from his waistband, pointing it at the passenger window as it shattered, then running from the scene and discarding clothing on a nearby apartment balcony.

That same night a memorial at the market became violent when a gunfight erupted; police estimated more than 50 rounds were fired and three adults plus one juvenile were arrested on rioting and weapons charges. If anyone knew Varney Kennedy Jr. or saw the incident, please share tips or information with investigators.