Alexis Antonio Quintanilla Deras, a loving 19-year-old man with aspirations of becoming an electrician, was remembered by his family for the life he had ahead of him. Born in America to a family from Honduras, Alexis lived in Willmar, Minnesota, with his mother and two younger brothers, Oscar and John. His cousin described him as a "loving young man" whose sudden death left his family heartbroken and in a terrible state.
His older sister, Dunia, later lamented the loss, saying, "No one in the family is doing well." She hoped that young people would learn from the tragedy, stating, "We want them to know that their lives are worth living, it's not worth it to throw it all away."
On the evening of September 21, 2026, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace at a community park. The shooting occurred around 8:00 p.m. at Rau Park, a quiet area on Foot Lake in the 1000 block of 7th Street NW. According to one 911 caller, shots were fired from a car, though police did not immediately confirm details about suspects or vehicles involved. When officers from the Willmar Police Department arrived, they found a chaotic scene. Two men were on the ground with gunshot wounds.
The two victims found by police were identified as 20-year-old Yasir Diriye Kahin and 19-year-old Guled Fahran Abdi. First responders began life-saving measures before both were rushed by ambulance to CentraCare - Rice Memorial Hospital. Kahin was pronounced dead at the hospital. Abdi, a former Willmar resident living in Bloomington, was critically injured and airlifted to CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital for advanced care. Alexis, the third victim, was not at the scene when police arrived; he had been taken from the park in a private vehicle and driven to the hospital, where he, too, was pronounced dead.
The Willmar Police Department, assisted by the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, launched a homicide investigation. Investigators worked to piece together the circumstances that led to the shooting and to identify everyone involved. Police Chief Mike Holme described the shooting as an "isolated incident" and not a random act of violence, stating that they did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public. Alexis's sister suggested the violence may have been rooted in a long-standing dispute. In a public statement, Chief Holme acknowledged the community's alarm, saying, "Gunfire in a public park is alarming and can understandably leave neighbors and members of our community unsettled. The Willmar Police Department is deeply concerned and disappointed by this senseless act of gun violence."
In the days following the tragedy, the community mourned the two young lives lost. A candlelight vigil was held for Alexis at the Rau Park Fishing Pier, the site of the shooting. His family created a GoFundMe campaign to help his mother and two younger brothers with funeral costs and daily living expenses. His cousin wrote on the fundraising page, "Thank you to everyone who has reached out, offered support, shared memories of Alexis, and continued to keep our family in your hearts. We are incredibly grateful for the kindness and love shown to us during this difficult time."
As of late September 2026, the investigation into the triple shooting remained active and ongoing. No arrests had been announced, and police had not publicly identified any suspects or a specific motive. Detectives urged anyone who witnessed the incident or had any information, no matter how minor it seemed, to come forward to help establish a clearer understanding of what occurred. The Willmar Police Department asked anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Chad Nelson at 320-235-3100, extension 3107.
