On a late Saturday night in Minneapolis, the lively atmosphere inside the Spring Street Tavern was shattered by a single gunshot. It was December 3, 2022, and for 37-year-old Kenneth Todd Rodriguez, a Hispanic and Native American man, it would be his last night. The incident, which unfolded at the tavern on Monroe Street Northeast, left patrons in shock and resulted in Rodriguez's death from a gunshot wound to the chest.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:37 p.m.
The events leading to the fatal shooting were captured by the bar's surveillance cameras. Rodriguez, a prominent member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, was seen approaching another patron, 42-year-old Patrick William Mincey. An altercation ensued, during which Rodriguez, who had a knife, was seen touching and chest-bumping Mincey. In response, Mincey pulled a handgun from a sock and fired one shot, striking Rodriguez. Police later confirmed that the two men were known to each other, but the exact reason for their confrontation remains unclear.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, other patrons in the bar subdued Mincey, holding him until police arrived. Mincey sustained injuries from being beaten by bystanders and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being booked into the Hennepin County Jail. A booking photo showed him with significant injuries to his face, including two black eyes. Mincey, who has a criminal history that includes convictions for kidnapping and second-degree assault, was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Following the investigation, Patrick William Mincey was charged with illegal possession of a firearm due to his prior felony convictions. He was initially arrested on probable cause for murder, but as of early reports, murder charges had not been filed, with the county attorney's office stating the investigation was ongoing and further charges could be considered. Mincey was later released on bond pending his next court appearance. The death of Kenneth Rodriguez marked the 75th homicide in Minneapolis that year.
