A bright and bubbly 14-year-old Black / African American girl, Monica Joy Karen Lynne Holley, was tragically killed on October 4, 2023, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Remembered by her family as a natural comedian with a joyful laugh, Monica was an energetic teenager with a wide range of interests that included volleyball, track, and musical theater. She had recently joined the track team at Highland Park Middle School, where she was an eighth-grade student.
Described as a kind and friendly person with a loving soul, her sudden death left her family and community heartbroken.
On that Wednesday evening, around 7:45 p.m., multiple gunshots rang out in the 1200 block of Hazelwood Street. The gunfire resulted in Monica's fatal injuries and also wounded three other young people: two teenage girls, aged 13 and 15, and a 19-year-old woman. According to her family, Monica was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of what was described as a shootout. Paramedics arrived at the chaotic scene and transported the victims to the hospital, but Monica unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. The other three victims were treated for non-life-threatening wounds.
The Saint Paul Police Department responded to numerous 911 calls and an officer on patrol also heard the gunshots. Upon arrival, they found a scene littered with dozens of bullet casings, indicating the intensity of the violence. The incident marked the 27th homicide in the city that year. In the days following the shooting, community members and Monica's grieving family pleaded for an end to gun violence and for any witnesses to come forward with information.
As of the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, investigators were working to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting and to identify those responsible. The police actively sought surveillance footage from the area and urged the public to provide any leads. At the time of the initial reports, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting, and there was no public identification of any suspects. The investigation into the senseless act of violence that cut short a promising young life was ongoing.
