On the afternoon of New Year's Eve 2021, a Black male named Santana Da'quan Jackson, age 15, was killed in north Minneapolis. The incident, which also left a 16-year-old male with non-life-threatening injuries, was initially reported as a drive-by shooting on the 2400 block of Dupont Avenue North around 4:30 p.m. When police arrived, they found Santana with gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds. The other teen was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Initial reports stated that the two teenagers were walking when a vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire before speeding away. The suspects were gone by the time police arrived. Santana's death marked the 95th homicide in Minneapolis that year. However, further investigation revealed a different story.
Subsequent reports and criminal charges filed in January 2022 painted a picture of a robbery gone wrong. According to these later accounts, Santana and the 16-year-old had arranged to meet a man under the pretense of buying sneakers from him after connecting on Snapchat. When the seller arrived, the two teens allegedly brandished handguns and robbed him of his wallet and cellphone. During the robbery, one of the teens reportedly threatened to kill the man. The victim, who was also armed, drew his own handgun and shot both teenagers. Police later found the seller's wallet in Santana's possession.
In connection with this incident, 21-year-old Javeyon D. Tate was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree riot. Authorities alleged that Tate was aware that the two teens were armed and planned to commit a robbery. He is accused of driving them to the location. After the shooting, Tate allegedly drove the injured 16-year-old to the hospital. Tate was the only person charged in the incident as of January 2022, with the county attorney's office weighing potential charges against the shooter, considering the possibility of self-defense.
