Joseph Denny Nezperce, a 36-year-old man from South St. Paul, Minnesota, became a victim of gun violence while riding a public train on a Saturday evening. While details about his personal life, family, and work have not been shared publicly, his death prompted calls for increased safety and a determined investigation by law enforcement.
The evening of October 3, 2026, was active in Minneapolis, with thousands of people in the area around Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of
Minnesota campus. Hours after a Gophers football game had concluded, Joseph was a passenger aboard an eastbound Metro Transit Green Line light rail train. The Green Line is one of the Twin Cities' primary public transit arteries, connecting the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul and serving numerous communities and neighborhoods along University Avenue.
Shortly after 9 p.m., as the train was traveling from the Stadium Village station toward St. Paul, shots were fired inside one of the cars. The train continued to the next stop, the Westgate station, located just across the city border in St. Paul near University Avenue and Curfew Street. The individual who fired the shots reportedly stepped off the train and fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
When police officers from Metro Transit and St. Paul, along with emergency medical crews, met the train at the Westgate station, they found Joseph suffering from at least one gunshot wound. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but his injuries were too severe. Joseph Denny Nezperce was pronounced dead at the scene, still inside the light rail car where he had been shot.
The Minneapolis Police Department took the lead on the homicide investigation. Detectives and forensic scientists processed the scene for evidence. A critical element in the investigation came from Metro Transit's extensive surveillance system. Authorities reported that high-quality cameras on the train had captured clear footage of the suspected shooter. While investigators expressed confidence that this evidence would lead to an arrest, the suspect’s identity was not publicly released, and no arrests were immediately made. The motive for the shooting remained unknown to the public.
In the wake of the deadly shooting, Metro Transit officials sought to reassure the public about the safety of the system. They issued a statement expressing their condolences and denouncing the violence. "Our hearts are with everyone affected by this senseless loss," the agency said. "Gun violence has no place on our transit system or in the communities we serve." Metro Transit also announced it would increase the presence of police officers and security personnel on trains and at stations, particularly along the Green Line, for the foreseeable future. They affirmed their commitment to working with law enforcement partners to hold the perpetrator accountable, stating, "if you commit a crime on our transit system, you will be identified, arrested, and held accountable.”
As of October 2026, the investigation into the murder of Joseph Nezperce remains open and active. No suspects have been publicly identified or taken into custody. Authorities continue to seek information from the public that could lead to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers of Minnesota at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online.
