In the quiet town of Austin, Minnesota, a tragedy shattered the winter afternoon of February 15, 2025, ending the life of 27-year-old Opoka James Nathanael, a Black male. Born in Juba, South Sudan, Nathanael was known as a kind and selfless soul who was deeply loved by his family and friends. He had a passion for music, fixing bikes, and cooking for others, and was remembered as a loving uncle who was always playing with and caring for the children around him.
On that fateful Saturday,
Nathanael was behind the wheel of his SUV in the 1100 block of 5th Avenue Northwest when gunfire erupted from within the vehicle. He was struck by seven bullets in the back, a fatal assault that occurred without any apparent warning. A second man in the front passenger seat was also shot twice but survived his injuries. The sudden violence left Nathanael deceased at the scene, an autopsy later confirming the devastating extent of his wounds.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a 16-year-old suspect, Phillip Tyrek Gills of Austin. According to reports, the surviving victim informed police that the shots came from a third occupant in the back seat who then fled. A witness reported hearing the gunshots and seeing a male running from the vehicle. Investigators were able to follow footprints in the snow and utilize surveillance video from a nearby home to identify Gills as the suspect.
Later that evening, police located Gills at a residence just a few blocks from the crime scene. He was wearing different clothing than what was seen on the surveillance footage, but officers were able to recover the discarded clothes from the home. Gills was arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. The Mower County Attorney's Office has stated its intention to prosecute him as an adult. While the man who survived the shooting told authorities that Nathanael knew the suspect, a clear motive for the shooting has not been released.
