On July 2, 2022, 17-year-old Xzavier 'Zane' Louis Aubid-St. Clair was fatally shot in Duluth, Minnesota. The incident occurred near East 1st Street and 16th Avenue East in the city's Endion neighborhood. Responding officers found Aubid-St. Clair lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his face; he was transported to Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of 17-year-old Corey Devon Young, a childhood friend of the victim. Witnesses reported that Aubid-St. Clair had gone to Young's apartment intending to confront him. Surveillance footage showed the two engaging in a conversation before Young retrieved a firearm from a fanny pack and shot Aubid-St. Clair at close range. Young claimed he acted in self-defense, alleging that Aubid-St. Clair had accused him of being a 'snitch.'
At the time of the shooting, Young was on probation for a prior felony firearm offense, having been placed on probation just days earlier for bringing a gun to the Area Learning Center school in May 2022. He had also been charged with bringing a gun to East High School in 2021.
Initially charged in juvenile court with second-degree murder and possession of a pistol by a minor, Young was later certified to stand trial as an adult. In June 2024, a jury found him guilty of intentional murder and illegal possession of a firearm. Subsequently, in September 2024, Young was sentenced to over 27 years in prison for the murder of Aubid-St. Clair.
The tragic death of Xzavier 'Zane' Louis Aubid-St. Clair, a student at Duluth East High School remembered for his smile and love for family, has had a profound impact on the Duluth community. The case underscores the devastating consequences of gun violence among youth and has prompted discussions on measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
