Joquese Loyd was 15 when she was shot and killed on April 26, 2008, inside an apartment in Minneapolis during an argument. Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the living room where Joquese apparently waved a kitchen knife to get the attention of 29-year-old Shaunell Arrice Johnson. Johnson cocked a handgun and fired; a single round struck Joquese in the chest and officers found her collapsed on the living-room floor.

Investigators treated Johnson as the shooter. He was the only person arrested and prosecuted; a Hennepin County jury convicted him of second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter. The Minnesota Court of Appeals later affirmed those convictions. Advocacy materials and the appellate record both report that Joquese was shot once in the chest at Johnson’s residence.

Anyone who knew Joquese, Johnson, or who was in that apartment that night is asked to share information that could shed further light on what happened.