On the late evening of September 4, 2024, a dispute on a Minneapolis street escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of Mario Ray Sparkman, a 46-year-old Black / African American man. Just before midnight, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Sparkman was shot multiple times on South Portland Avenue near East 15th Street, on the southern edge of the downtown area.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found Sparkman with critical injuries from which he would not recover.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Sparkman's death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators have indicated that preliminary information suggests an argument occurred right before the fatal shooting. A possible suspect was seen leaving the scene on foot after the incident. His death was a grim marker for the city, representing the 51st homicide in Minneapolis that year.
Remembered by those who knew him as a manager at Interstate Parking Minneapolis/St. Paul, Sparkman's unexpected death left a void in the community. In the wake of the shooting, no arrests have been announced, and the individual who fled the scene remains unidentified. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mario Ray Sparkman's death continues as authorities appeal to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest.
