In the late hours of April 29, 2025, the life of 20-year-old Merelle Joan White was tragically cut short in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A member of the Bear Clan from Red Lake, MN, Merelle was a Native American woman known affectionately to her loved ones as "Merelli" and "Nizho Nagweyaabin," which means "2nd Rainbow." She was known for her love of basketball, beauty, and music, often filling her family's phones with selfies and dancing to her favorite songs.
Her deep love for her family and friends was a defining characteristic, and she always made sure they knew how much she cared.
On that fateful Tuesday night, just before midnight, Minneapolis police responded to 911 calls and ShotSpotter activations in the 1500 block of East 25th Street. At the scene, they discovered a horrific act of violence had taken place inside a vehicle. Five people had been shot. Merelle, along with Evan Ramon Denny, 27, and Joseph Douglas Goodwin, 17, were pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. Two other victims were transported to the hospital, one of whom, LeRas Francis Rainey, 28, later succumbed to his injuries. A 20-year-old woman, who was shot in the face, survived the attack and was able to provide crucial information to the police. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner officially ruled Merelle's death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation into the mass shooting moved swiftly. The survivor identified the shooter as a man who had been sitting in the back seat before he opened fire on everyone in the vehicle and fled on foot. This testimony, along with other evidence, led police to a suspect. On May 1, 2025, James Duane Ortley, 34, was arrested in connection with the killings. Ortley was subsequently charged with multiple counts of second-degree murder and one count of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.
Authorities believe the shooting was gang-related, alleging that Ortley and his family have associations with a gang known as the Native Mob. The victims, all of whom were Native American, reportedly knew Ortley and had planned to pick him up on the night of the incident. The violence sent shockwaves through Minneapolis's large urban Indigenous community, a community that was left to mourn the senseless loss of four of its members. In the days that followed, Merelle's family and friends gathered for a two-day wake and traditional service at the Red Lake Center to honor her memory.
