In the early morning hours of December 30, 2023, a dispute inside a bustling Minneapolis deli tragically escalated, ending the life of 40-year-old Kenneth Maurice Johnson, a Black male from Wayne, Michigan. The incident unfolded at Mr. Santana, a popular late-night eatery in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, at approximately 3:45 a.m.
A physical altercation had broken out among a group of people inside the small convenience store.
As the fight intensified, a woman named Misti Dawn Nelson, a 27-year-old from Minneapolis, became involved. Her sister was an employee at the deli and was caught in the middle of the brawl. At one point during the chaotic scene, which was captured on video surveillance, Nelson drew a handgun.
The conflict spilled out of the establishment, and Nelson, who was then outside, fired shots into the group. Johnson, who had also moved outside, was struck by the gunfire. He was hit in the abdomen and collapsed across the street. Emergency services were called to the scene on the 600 block of University Avenue Southeast, and Johnson was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries about 45 minutes later. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner officially ruled his death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.
Later that day, Misti Nelson surrendered to the Minneapolis police, turning over the 9mm handgun she had used in the shooting. She was arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder. In her statement to the authorities, Nelson admitted to shooting Johnson twice. She claimed that she had been hit in the face during the fight and feared for her sister's safety. Nelson, who possessed a valid permit to carry the firearm, told investigators that she had aimed for Johnson's torso, as she had been trained to do in her permit to carry class. She was later sentenced to more than eight years in prison after pleading guilty to the charge.
